Fact Check: "A federal jury in Colorado found that Mike Lindell defamed Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems, and ordered Lindell to pay Coomer $2.3 million in damages on June 5, 2025."
What We Know
On June 5, 2025, a federal jury in Colorado found that Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, defamed Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. The jury awarded Coomer $2.3 million in damages after determining that Lindell's statements, including calling Coomer a "traitor," were defamatory (Washington Post, New York Times). Coomer's lawsuit claimed that Lindell's false statements had severely impacted his career and personal life, leading to credible death threats (Politico).
Lindell's defense argued that his statements were protected under the First Amendment as they pertained to a matter of public concern. However, the jury found that the nature of the statements crossed into defamation, particularly because they accused Coomer of treason (Denver Post, CBS News).
Analysis
The evidence presented during the trial indicated that Lindell's claims about Coomer were not only baseless but also damaging. Coomer's lawyers argued that Lindell either knew his statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth (ABC News). The jury's decision to award $2.3 million, significantly less than the $62.7 million Coomer sought, reflects a compromise between the severity of the defamation and the jury's assessment of the damages (New York Times).
Lindell's credibility as a source has been called into question due to his history of promoting conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 presidential election. His continued assertions of election fraud, despite a lack of evidence, suggest a pattern of behavior that undermines his reliability (Washington Post). The jury's decision indicates a recognition of the harmful impact that such unfounded claims can have on individuals and the democratic process.
Conclusion
The claim that a federal jury in Colorado found Mike Lindell defamed Eric Coomer and ordered him to pay $2.3 million in damages on June 5, 2025, is True. The jury's verdict was based on the determination that Lindell's statements were defamatory and had a significant negative impact on Coomer's life and career. The evidence presented during the trial, coupled with the jury's findings, supports this conclusion.
Sources
- Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for ...
- MyPillow Founder Mike Lindell Defamed Former Dominion Executive, Jury ...
- MyPillow founder Mike Lindell loses defamation case
- Jury finds MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell liable for defamation
- Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former executive at Denver ...
- Jury returns verdict in Mike Lindell defamation case | 9news.com
- Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed a former Dominion ...
- Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for a leading ...
