In a significant ruling, a federal jury has determined that businessman Mike Lindell defamed Eric Coomer, a former employee of Denver’s Dominion Voting Systems.
The jury has ordered Lindell to pay approximately $2.3 million in damages, a far cry from the $62.7 million that Coomer sought.
The jury’s decision reflects their rejection of several claims against Lindell and his companies, MyPillow and FrankSpeech, regarding comments made by others on platforms he managed.
Coomer’s attorney, Charles Caine, expressed mixed emotions about the verdict, recognizing the toll it has taken on Coomer while also viewing it as a step towards vindication.
Caine emphasized the message of the verdict, stating, “individuals who are singled out can get vindication in the courthouse.
And hopefully this serves as deterrence for individuals working on our elections from being targeted.”
While he does not anticipate an end to the spread of election conspiracy theories, Caine hopes the verdict will prevent individuals from being named in such falsehoods.
On the other side, Lindell highlighted the fact that the jury did not find his company, MyPillow, liable for defamation, which he termed a significant victory.
“This is a huge victory for our country,” Lindell declared in a broadcast from the courthouse steps on his platform, LindellTV.
He asserted that the ruling sends a message about the consequences of attacking American companies and reinforced his commitment to continue spreading claims about voting machine companies.
Lindell framed the jury’s findings as a breakthrough for free speech, distinguishing his actions as a defense of First Amendment rights amid what he described as a prolonged legal assault.
Despite the jury’s findings, Lindell announced plans to appeal the damages awarded to Coomer, claiming he is currently in debt.
Coomer has also launched lawsuits against other conservative media outlets, prominent right-wing figures, and President Donald Trump’s campaign over similar allegations.
As part of a settlement, Newsmax has retracted its coverage of Coomer, while Salem Media has recently issued a retraction and apology but has not finalized a settlement.
The case against Lindell concentrated on a series of ten statements that Coomer’s legal team characterized as defamatory, with a focus on the serious accusations levied against Coomer.
Coomer’s lawyers sought to illuminate Lindell’s numerous opportunities to question the claims about Coomer yet noted that he continued to propagate the false narrative that Coomer had been involved in election fraud.
Out of the statements examined, the jury identified only three as meeting the defamation standard, two made by Lindell himself and one made by a speaker at a FrankSpeech event.
In one of the derogatory remarks made on May 9, 2021, Lindell encouraged Coomer to turn himself in regarding alleged election-stealing activities, labeling him as “disgusting” and “treasonous.”
Another statement came shortly after Coomer filed his lawsuit, where Lindell proclaimed, “Eric Coomer, you are a criminal.”
Lindell’s legal team argued that Coomer’s reputation was already severely damaged prior to Lindell’s mentions, and during testimony, he reiterated his belief in Coomer’s alleged misconduct.
The belief in the truth of the statements serves as a legal defense against defamation, according to Lindell.
He further contended that many of his comments were responses to the lawsuit and not exclusively regarding election fraud allegations.
Coomer’s name emerged in the web of post-election conspiracy theories following an assertion by podcaster Joe Oltmann that he had overheard conversations indicating Coomer’s involvement in guaranteeing Trump’s loss.
Oltmann has never produced a recording of this claimed call but disseminated his conclusions widely on right-wing media platforms following the election.
Coomer testified that the fallout from Lindell and others has cost him a 15-year career in a field he loved and that the repercussions of their fabrications have been severe.
Amid jury deliberations, Lindell remained defiant, asserting that he would not cease questioning perceived voting irregularities, regardless of the verdict.
He objected to the limitations placed on his defense, including the inability to fully present election conspiracy theories, framing these restrictions as attempts at censorship.
Lindell acknowledged feeling uncertain about the case’s outcome due to questions posed by the jury, stating, “We need a win here.”
The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul contributed to this report, highlighting the intricate and contentious nature of this legal battle that reflects broader tensions around election integrity and free speech.
image source from：https://www.cpr.org/2025/06/16/mypillow-ceo-mike-lindell-defamation-lawsuitverdict/
