Fact Check: Mike Lindell claimed that his beliefs about the 2020 presidential election being tainted by fraud were influenced by the 2020 HBO documentary 'Kill Chain' and by Michael Flynn.

Fact Check: Mike Lindell's Claims About Election Fraud Influences

What We Know

Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, has been a prominent figure in promoting conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 presidential election, claiming it was tainted by fraud. During a recent defamation trial, Lindell stated that his beliefs about the election were influenced by two main sources: the 2020 HBO documentary Kill Chain and the views of Michael Flynn, former national security adviser to President Trump. Specifically, Lindell mentioned that Flynn had suggested in a 2021 documentary interview that foreign interference in U.S. elections was a possibility, which Lindell found credible due to Flynn's background in intelligence (AP News, New York Times).

Lindell's claims were made in the context of a defamation lawsuit brought against him by Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems, who argued that Lindell's statements had severely harmed his career and personal life (BBC, CBS News).

Analysis

The claim that Lindell's beliefs about election fraud were influenced by Kill Chain and Michael Flynn is supported by his own testimony during the trial. He explicitly stated that these two sources shaped his views on the integrity of the 2020 election (AP News, New York Times).

The reliability of Lindell's statements can be scrutinized based on the broader context of his claims. Lindell has been labeled a conspiracy theorist by multiple reputable sources, and his assertions about the election have been widely discredited. For instance, numerous audits and recounts have consistently affirmed Joe Biden's victory, and even Trump's former attorney general stated there was no evidence of widespread fraud (NPR).

While Lindell's references to Kill Chain and Flynn are factual, the credibility of the claims they support is highly questionable. The documentary itself has been criticized for promoting unfounded theories about election security, and Flynn's statements have been similarly scrutinized for lacking credible evidence (BBC, CBS News).

Conclusion

The claim that Mike Lindell's beliefs about the 2020 presidential election being tainted by fraud were influenced by the documentary Kill Chain and Michael Flynn is True. Lindell himself confirmed this during his trial, providing a direct link between his beliefs and these two sources. However, while the claim about the influence is accurate, the validity of the beliefs themselves is highly contested and lacks substantial evidence.

Sources

1. Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for a leading ...
2. MyPillow Founder Mike Lindell Defamed Election ... - The New York Times
3. Debunking MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's false election theories - NPR
4. Mike Lindell: MyPillow boss loses $2.3m defamation case - BBC
5. Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed a former Dominion ...
6. Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for a ...
7. Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for ...
8. Mike Lindell testifies in defamation case over 2020 election fraud lies