UPDATE: MyPillow founder Mike Lindell has been officially ruled to have defamed election technology company Smartmatic, according to a recent decision by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan in Minnesota. This ruling, announced on October 27, 2023, comes as part of ongoing legal battles over false claims regarding the 2020 presidential election.
Judge Bryan determined that Lindell made 51 specific false statements claiming that Smartmatic’s voting machines manipulated election results in Los Angeles County, where Joe Biden secured 71% of the vote. Lindell’s allegations of rigged machines designed to shift votes from Donald Trump to Biden were found to be baseless, with the judge stating, “no reasonable trier of fact could find that any of the statements at issue are true.”
Smartmatic’s attorney, Erik Connolly, revealed that the company plans to seek nine-figure damages from Lindell for disseminating falsehoods about its operations. Connolly asserted, “Smartmatic did not and could not have rigged the 2020 election. It was impossible, and everything that Mr. Lindell said about Smartmatic was false.”
In response to the ruling, Lindell expressed disbelief, calling it “the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard.” He reiterated his commitment to combating what he describes as election fraud, vowing to push for the elimination of voting machines and advocating for paper ballots. Lindell stated, “I will take this all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if I have to.”
This ruling adds to Lindell’s legal challenges; in June, he faced a jury decision that awarded $2.3 million in damages for defaming a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. Lindell’s accusations have drawn significant attention, especially following his previous losses against conservative news outlets like Newsmax and One America News Network, both of which reached settlements with Smartmatic last year.
In a surprising twist, Lindell is also contemplating a gubernatorial run in Minnesota, amidst the ongoing campaign of Democratic Governor Tim Walz for a third term. Lindell confirmed he is “considering running,” highlighting that securing elections is a top concern among voters.
Despite facing numerous legal and financial obstacles, Lindell had a minor victory in July when a federal appeals court ruled he did not have to pay a $5 million arbitration award linked to a separate claim of election interference involving China.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on Lindell and Smartmatic as both parties prepare for the next steps in this contentious legal battle. The stakes are high, with the potential for significant financial repercussions and ongoing implications for Lindell’s public image and political ambitions. Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.
