Internet mocks Mike Lindell after judge rules MyPillow CEO must pay $5M to election data debunker

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA: In a significant legal blow to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a US District Court on Wednesday, February 21, upheld a $5 million ruling against him over his relentless claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

The businessman, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, has been at the forefront of promoting unsubstantiated allegations regarding the legitimacy of the election results.

In April 2023, Lindell was ordered to pay $5 million to software developer Robert Zeidman, but he requested it to be overturned, which was denied in the recent ruling. 

District Court judge upholds decision of arbitration panel regarding Mike Lindell needing to pay $5 million

In 2021, Lindell apparently held a symposium where he made claims about possessing data that would prove interference from China affected the results of the 2020 election. He even offered $5 million to any person who would be able to prove him wrong. 

Zeidman took up the challenge and debunked Lindell's assertions by examining the data, as corroborated by an arbitration panel in April 2023. 

District Court Judge John Tunheim, in a 12-page order released on Wednesday, confirmed the arbitration decision, dismissing Lindell's request to overturn it.

He noted, "The Court's responsibility in reviewing an arbitration award is not to reevaluate the merits but rather ensure that the panel acted appropriately. Lindell LLC's only basis for Court action was that the panel acted outside the scope of its authority in issuing the award." 

The judge concluded, "Even though the Court may have reached a different outcome given an independent initial review of the information, the Court fails to identify evidence that the panel exceeded its authority. Under the Court's narrow review, it will confirm the arbitration award."

Internet reacts as MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is asked to pay $5 million to Robert Zeidman

As the court's decision came to light, Lindell faced ridicule and mockery from on social media.

One said, "Keep those promo codes going!!!!" Another remarked, "Time to make pillow shoes." 

"Maybe Trump will loan him some money for being so loyal…oh wait," quipped a person, while someone else noted, "Lindell could have saved himself a lot of money by accepting that people know how to manage elections and count votes." 

Mike Lindell faces challenges in business over his controversial views and political affiliation

In response to the initial ruling in April, Lindell vowed to contest the decision.

Lindell previously told Newsweek, "Horrible and wrong decision! This will end up in court! We are having the Election Crime Bureau Summit on August 16-17th in Missouri! This is just another attack to try and stop us from getting rid of the Electronic Voting Machines and going to paper ballots! Hand counted!"

"Zeidman admits that he was unable to decode the files we gave him," continued the MyPillow CEO, noting, "How then could he possibly prove that they were not related to the 2020 election? This was all a coverup and an attack!"

Meanwhile, Zeidman expressed, "I am obviously really happy about the arbitrators' decision. They clearly saw this as I did—that the data we were given at the symposium was not at all what Mr. Lindell said it was. The truth is finally out there."

The latest legal setback adds to a series of challenges Lindell has faced in recent years, including the loss of prominent business partnerships and public backlash over his controversial statements.

Major retailers such as Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond have severed ties with MyPillow, citing diminished consumer demand and concerns over the businessman's political affiliations.

Moreover, Lindell revealed during a recent appearance on Steve Bannon's 'War Room' program that another business venture, the Lindell Recovery Network, faced adversity as an unspecified online merchant server company withdrew its support.

The Lindell Recovery Network, aimed at providing assistance to individuals struggling with addiction, has been a personal endeavor for him as he overcame addiction himself before founding MyPillow.

"This just happened one hour ago, I had to pull over here on the road," told Lindell to Bannon, adding, "Our merchant server just canceled the Lindell Recovery Network, this is my network for addicts, and I've had [the website] with them, I don't know, five, six years...So now, that's a distraction, I've got to take more of my funds and put in to help [the site]."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.