Mike Lindell Found Liable for Defamation Over Election Lies Targeting Ex-Dominion Executive
DENVER — MyPillow CEO and prominent election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell has been ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages after a Colorado jury found he defamed a former Dominion Voting Systems employee in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
The verdict, delivered Monday, marks another blow to the election denial movement that has fueled threats and harassment against election workers across the country.
At the heart of the case was Eric Coomer, Dominion’s former director of security and product strategy, who became a central figure in right-wing conspiracy theories falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen. Lindell accused Coomer of committing treason — a claim the jury found defamatory.
What the Jury Decided
Jurors determined that two statements Lindell made about Coomer were defamatory, though they dismissed eight others. Lindell and his media platform Frankspeech — formerly known by the same name — were found jointly liable. While the damages awarded were far less than the $62.7 million Coomer sought, Coomer’s legal team hopes it sends a strong message about accountability.
“This is hurting democracy,” said Coomer’s attorney, Charles Cain, during closing arguments. “It’s misinformation. It’s not been vetted and it needs to stop.”
Lindell Vows to Appeal — and Keep Talking
Lindell, who continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was rigged, said he plans to appeal. He also made clear he has no intention of stopping his crusade against electronic voting machines.
“I will not stop talking until we don’t have voting machines in this country,” said Lindell, who favors a return to paper ballots counted by hand. He did not, however, present any expert testimony during the trial to support his claims.
Lindell claimed he’s lost nearly his entire fortune — going from being worth $60 million to being $10 million in debt — because of his activism. “I went to trial to draw attention to election integrity,” he said.
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Coomer: “My Life Was Destroyed”
During the two-week trial, Coomer described how conspiracy theories turned his life upside down. He said he received death threats, lost his job, and continues to live in fear. Lindell, he said, was among the loudest voices pushing falsehoods that left lasting scars.
One moment stood out in particular: a May 2021 statement in which Lindell said what Coomer had allegedly done was “treason.” That comment, Coomer testified, was especially devastating.
Coomer’s lawyers argued that Lindell either knew the accusations were lies or recklessly spread them without verifying the truth. They pointed to Lindell’s failure to provide any credible evidence and his reliance on discredited sources — including a Colorado podcaster who claimed to have overheard a call from “Eric at Dominion” threatening to stop Trump from winning.
Lindell later said he only learned about that podcast account during the trial.
Defamation or Free Speech?
Lindell’s legal team pushed back, insisting the case was about First Amendment rights and that elections are a matter of public concern. They said Coomer’s reputation was already damaged due to controversial Facebook posts he made before Lindell ever mentioned him — posts Coomer admitted were “hyperbolic” and a mistake.
Lindell denied knowingly making false statements and said he routinely calls people “traitors.” But Coomer’s attorneys argued that such language isn’t protected when it accuses someone of a specific crime like treason, especially with no evidence.
A Pattern of False Claims
Dominion Voting Systems has been at the center of numerous falsehoods pushed by allies of Donald Trump, who continues to insist the 2020 election was stolen. The company previously secured a $787 million settlement from Fox News for spreading similar lies and has ongoing litigation against Newsmax, which apologized to Coomer in 2021.
Multiple audits, recounts, and investigations — including by Trump’s own Justice Department — have consistently affirmed Joe Biden’s win and found no evidence of widespread fraud.
Lindell, meanwhile, continues to cite questionable sources, including the HBO documentary Kill Chain and claims from Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as reasons for his beliefs.
Bottom Line:
Mike Lindell’s defamation loss is the latest chapter in a long-running saga of election denialism. While the damage award was smaller than expected, the case underscores a growing legal pushback against those who spread false and dangerous claims that undermine public trust in democracy.
Source: AP News – Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for a leading voting equipment company
