MyPillow founder and chief executive Mike Lindell, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump, has lost a significant defamation lawsuit brought by a former employee of a voting machine company. A jury in Denver, Colorado, ordered Lindell to pay $2.3 million (£1.7m) to Eric Coomer, who previously served as security and product strategy director at Dominion Voting Systems.
The lawsuit stemmed from Lindell’s false accusations that Mr. Coomer was personally involved in rigging the 2020 US presidential election, which was won by Joe Biden. These baseless claims were part of wider efforts to promote the narrative that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.
Mr. Coomer’s lawsuit, filed in 2022 against Lindell and two of his companies (My Pillow, Inc and Lindell TV), asserted that Lindell’s actions had “irreparably tarnished” his reputation. According to court documents, Mr. Coomer faced severe consequences, including frequent credible death threats and the burden of being falsely positioned as the mastermind of a vast criminal conspiracy.
During the two-week trial, Lindell reportedly continued to stand by his unproven allegations regarding the election outcome.
Following the verdict, a lawyer for Mr. Coomer, Charles Cain, expressed satisfaction, telling the Colorado Sun that they were “thrilled with the verdict.” Cain acknowledged the ongoing challenges Mr. Coomer faces but highlighted the verdict’s importance, stating it shows that individuals who are unfairly targeted “can get vindication in the courthouse.” He also expressed hope that the outcome could serve as a deterrence for others working in election roles from being similarly attacked.
Lindell’s Response and Continued Claims
Outside the courthouse, Lindell offered a different perspective, praising the jury for not finding his company, Lindell TV, liable for defamation. He controversially called the overall outcome a “huge victory for our country,” claiming it showed “you cannot attack USA companies and expect it’s going to work.” Despite the $2.3 million judgment against him personally, Lindell vowed to appeal the decision and mentioned facing financial debt.
Lindell has previously faced business repercussions for promoting election conspiracies, with several major US retailers stopping sales of his products in 2021. More recently, he has publicly leveraged his legal battles, using his company’s website to promote products with codes like “JURY” and solicit donations for his “legal defense fund.”
Broader Context of Election-Related Lawsuits
Lindell’s loss is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by individuals who promoted false claims about the 2020 election results.
Dominion Voting Systems itself has filed numerous defamation lawsuits against various individuals and media entities who amplified false narratives about their machines. Notably, Dominion reached a $787.5 million settlement with Fox News over the network’s airing of election-related falsehoods.
Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani recently settled a massive $148 million defamation judgment awarded to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ “Shaye” Moss, whom he falsely accused of ballot fraud. The settlement allowed Giuliani to retain ownership of his homes.
- Former President Trump himself has faced and lost multiple defamation cases, including being ordered to pay writer E Jean Carroll $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation in 2023 (a verdict he is appealing) and a further nearly $84 million in a separate defamation case in 2024.
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These cases highlight the significant legal and financial risks associated with making unsubstantiated public claims, particularly regarding election integrity and individuals involved in the process. While the legal standards and outcomes vary in defamation cases, as seen in the recent dismissal of actor Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Blake Lively and others related to an on-set dispute, the pattern of losses in election-related suits against Trump allies is becoming increasingly clear.
