A federal jury in Denver has ruled against Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a prominent election conspiracy theorist, in a defamation case involving Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems.
The jury deemed two of Lindell’s statements about Coomer to be defamatory, including accusations labeling him a traitor, and ordered Lindell to pay $2.3 million in damages.
While Coomer had sought a much larger sum of $62.7 million, his legal team expressed satisfaction that the verdict sends a significant message against assaults on election workers, despite falling short of their expectations.
During the closing arguments, Coomer’s attorney, Charles Cain, articulated the gravity of misinformation, stating, “This is hurting democracy. This is misinformation. It’s not been vetted and it needs to stop.”
In response, Lindell announced his intention to appeal the jury’s decision, arguing that Coomer’s legal representatives did not adequately demonstrate that he had suffered harm due to the statements.
“I will not stop talking until we don’t have voting machines in this country,” Lindell declared, reaffirming his stance on election security and his criticism of companies like Dominion that manufacture voting systems.
Throughout the trial, Lindell maintained his baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent, although he presented no experts or evidence to support his assertions.
Cain criticized Lindell’s reliance on sensational rhetoric without substance, referring to him as “all hat and no cattle.”
Despite the jury granting a smaller award than Coomer’s requests, Cain expressed hope that the ruling would nonetheless deter future attacks on individuals involved in the electoral process.
Coomer has faced significant personal challenges, including receiving death threats, and his attorney noted that he is likely to remain vigilant regarding his safety.
The controversy surrounding Dominion’s voting machines has been fueled by various conspiracy theories, largely propagated by supporters of President Donald Trump, who continue to assert that widespread fraud influenced the election results.
Notably, Dominion previously secured a $787 million settlement in a defamation lawsuit against Fox News for the latter’s dissemination of false claims about the company.
In contrast, Newsmax publicly apologized to Coomer in 2021 for airing erroneous allegations against him.
Coomer testified during the proceedings that his career and personal life had been devastated by Lindell’s statements.
Coomer’s legal team argued that Lindell either knew his statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth when making them.
Lindell’s defense counters that his platform, formerly known as Frankspeech, should not be held liable for comments made by other individuals.
While the jury found many statements made by Lindell and others on Frankspeech not defamatory, they held him accountable for the two specific statements related to Coomer.
Coomer claimed that Lindell’s assertions had irrevocably altered his life, which he described as once stable and fulfilling.
Lindell, who stated he used to have a net worth of around $60 million, claimed his financial status has deteriorated to a $10 million debt due to his outspoken advocacy regarding the 2020 election.
The former Dominion employee emphasized the profound effects that the conspiracy theories had on his mental health and overall wellbeing.
Coomer highlighted a particularly distressing remark made by Lindell on May 9, 2021, where he described Coomer’s actions as treasonous.
Lindell, however, argued that his criticisms were part of a broader discourse on public concern regarding elections, asserting that his statements were protected by the First Amendment.
Ultimately, the defense insisted that Coomer’s reputation was already tarnished before Lindell became involved, in part due to Coomer’s own Facebook posts that included disparaging remarks about Trump.
Coomer admitted to some missteps on social media but asserted they do not justify the defamatory statements made by Lindell.
Despite Lindell’s claims of not directly accusing Coomer of rigging the election, his provocations led to significant backlash against Coomer.
The legal battle reflects ongoing tensions over the integrity of the electoral process in the United States and the repercussions faced by individuals targeted by unfounded conspiracy theories.
As the case concludes, the implications for future discourse on election integrity, defamation, and the responsibilities of public figures remain to be seen.
image source from：https://sentinelcolorado.com/nation-world/nation/denver-jury-mypillow-founder-defamed-former-employee-for-a-leading-voting-equipment-company/
