Fact Check: Mike Lindell ordered to pay $2.3 million for defaming election worker.

Fact Check: Mike Lindell Ordered to Pay $2.3 Million for Defaming Election Worker

What We Know

Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, has been ordered by a federal jury in Denver to pay $2.3 million in damages to Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. This verdict was reached after a two-week trial where the jury found that Lindell had defamed Coomer by making false claims about his involvement in rigging the 2020 presidential election (Reuters, New York Times). Lindell's accusations included calling Coomer “a traitor to the United States” and suggesting he should turn himself in to authorities, which Coomer argued led to significant harm to his reputation and personal safety, including credible death threats (BBC, The Guardian).

Coomer filed the lawsuit in 2022, asserting that Lindell's defamatory statements had irreparably damaged his career in the election industry. The trial highlighted how Lindell's claims were part of a broader narrative that falsely suggested widespread election fraud (Newsweek, Yahoo News). Lindell has publicly maintained that the election was stolen from Donald Trump, despite the lack of evidence supporting such claims (Axios).

Analysis

The evidence presented during the trial included Lindell's public statements and media appearances where he propagated conspiracy theories about the election. The jury's decision reflects a legal acknowledgment that these statements were not only false but also harmful to Coomer's reputation (New York Times).

The reliability of the sources reporting on this case is generally high. Major news outlets such as Reuters, The New York Times, and BBC have covered the verdict, providing detailed accounts of the trial and its implications. These outlets are known for their journalistic standards and fact-checking practices, lending credibility to their reports (Reuters, BBC).

However, it is important to note that Lindell has a vested interest in portraying himself as a victim of a biased legal system, as evidenced by his statements following the verdict where he expressed intentions to appeal (The Guardian). This could indicate a potential bias in his narrative, which may not fully align with the jury's findings.

Conclusion

The claim that Mike Lindell was ordered to pay $2.3 million for defaming election worker Eric Coomer is True. The jury's verdict was based on the determination that Lindell's statements were defamatory and had serious repercussions for Coomer's life and career. The evidence presented in court, along with the credibility of the reporting sources, supports this conclusion.

Sources

1. My Pillow founder defamed employee of voting machine ...
2. MyPillow Founder Mike Lindell Defamed Former Dominion ...
3. Mike Lindell: MyPillow boss loses $2.3m defamation case
4. MyPillow's Mike Lindell ordered to pay $2.3m in voting ...
5. Mike Lindell Suffers Major $2.3 Million Legal Blow
6. Mike Lindell Must Fork Over $2.3 Million to Ex-Dominion ...
7. Jury Finds MyPillow Founder Defamed Former Employee ...
8. Mike Lindell CEO Mike Lindell liable for defamation, must pay ...