Mike Lindell defamed Eric Coomer and owes $2.3 million

In a significant legal battle, a federal jury in Colorado found that Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow and a notable figure in promoting conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 U.S. presidential election, defamed Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. The jury's decision, which occurred on June 18, 2025, came after Coomer sued Lindell for statements made that included calling him a traitor and alleging he was involved in election fraud. Coomer's professional life and mental health suffered greatly due to these allegations, which Lindell disseminated via his online media platform, previously known as Frankspeech. The jury awarded Coomer $2.3 million in damages, although he had sought a much larger amount of $62.7 million to highlight the importance of protecting election workers from such attacks. During the trial, Coomer testified that Lindell’s statements had destroyed his career and overall life, illustrating the severe consequences of misinformation in the political climate following the election. Lindell's legal team argued that Frankspeech should not be liable for statements made by others on the platform, while those representing Coomer emphasized that Lindell knew the claims were false or recklessly disregarded the truth when making them. The jury also advised that eight other statements from Lindell and his platform were not deemed defamatory, highlighting a mixed outcome in the case. The lawsuit is part of a broader trend of legal actions against those who proliferate false claims about the integrity of the electoral process. Lindell has faced financial struggles attributed to his vocal stance on election integrity, citing a drop in personal wealth from about $60 million to $10 million in debt as his support for these theories has cost him significantly. His assertions about the 2020 election being stolen were bolstered by conspiracy theories and documentaries he endorsed, which lack credible evidence. This case reflects the ongoing tensions over election transparency and the ramifications of spreading unfounded allegations in a highly polarized political environment. Coomer's legal efforts aim to restore his reputation and serve as a cautionary tale about the impact of defamation on individuals involved in the electoral process.