MyPillow CEO Defamation Trial Begins in Downtown Denver

MyPillow CEO and Trump loyalist Mike Lindell is in a federal courtroom in downtown Denver, fighting a defamation lawsuit filed by Eric Coomer, a former executive with Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems.

This case, like a similar suit filed by Coomer against Salem Media Group and radio host Randy Corporan, centers on a conspiracy theory launched by Colorado podcaster Joe Oltmann and allegedly perpetuated by Lindell on his FrankSpeech streaming platform.

Coomer's lawsuit, filed in 2022, accuses Lindell of a targeted defamation campaign sparked by an accusation Oltmann made on his Conservative Daily Podcast on November 9, 2020, shortly after media organizations began calling the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden.

"Lindell aligned himself with an Antifa-obsessed Colorado podcaster and conspiracy theorist, Joseph Oltmann, who had made up a story about overhearing someone identified only as 'Eric, the Dominion guy" claim to have rigged the election against former President Trump on a supposed 'Antifa conference call,'" the complaint reads.

"Oltmann's story is inherently implausible," it continues. "Lindell, however, has a long history of publishing and amplifying any story he hears that aligns with his preconceived narrative that the election was rigged, and Oltmann's baseless lies about Dr. Coomer soon made their way into Lindell's rotation."

Coomer's suit alleges that Lindell, FrankSpeech and MyPillow profited from the accusations against Coomer, selling millions of dollars worth of pillows with promotional discount codes connected to the election-rigging allegations.

"After more than fifteen years as a respected professional at the top of his field, Dr. Coomer's reputation has been irreparably tarnished," the complaint reads. "He can no longer work in the elections industry on account of the unwarranted distrust inspired by Defendants' lies, and instead now endures frequent credible death threats and the burden of being made the face of an imagined criminal conspiracy of unprecedented scope in American history."

Before jury selection began, Lindell held a press conference in the courtyard of the Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse. His wife, Kendra Lindell, stood close by as he bowed his head for a prayer in front of a couple dozen supporters and a handful of media.
In his remarks, Lindell insisted he should be suing Coomer, because he was barred from talking about MyPillow on Newsmax. Lindell says that being banned from Newsmax cost MyPillow a little over $20 million in sales.

“We track everything by promo code, so we know,” Lindell said. Those promo codes are included as evidence in Coomer’s lawsuit, since they allegedly show Lindell directly profited from defaming Coomer.

Lindell also fielded a question about former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, currently serving a nine-year state prison term for election interference. (She's expected to testify in this case.)

“We all, and I believe, God willing, she’s going to get out,” Lindell responded. “That horrible judge, he just scolded her and said, ‘You didn’t learn your lesson, you’ve been out there spreading these conspiracies or whatever,’ and she didn’t back down.

“But remember, [President Trump] can’t just pardon, because it’s federal and state,” he added, referring to Trump’s agitation at being unable to issue a pardon for Peters because she was convicted on state charges.

While supporters encouraged Lindell to hurry into the courtroom, he pontificated on election fraud and the need for paper ballots for a few more minutes before emptying his pockets to enter the courthouse.

Jury selection began after some evidentiary issues were briefly argued before Judge Nina Y. Wang. One gentleman said he uses THC to address his regular headaches, and was dismissed. Another admitted he found Lindell’s political activities “offensive,” and he as well as two other jurors were dismissed for their inability to be impartial.

Opening arguments will start tomorrow morning, followed by Coomer's testimony.

Lindell told Rolling Stone he, too, would be testifying later in the trial. “Of course I’m gonna testify at my own trial! … I have nothing to hide. I am a former crack addict, I’ve always been open about that. I’ve always been open about everything! I’m as transparent as they come … So I have nothing to hide at this trial.”

This post has been updated from the original; we'll continue to offer updates through the duration of the trial, which is expected to end June 10.