Judge Declares Mike Lindell Defamed Smartmatic with False Voting Machine Claims: What You Need to Know

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MyPillow founder Mike Lindell has been found to have defamed the election technology company, Smartmatic, by making false claims about its voting machines. A federal judge in Minnesota ruled that Lindell falsely asserted these machines rigged the 2020 presidential election. However, the judge, Jeffrey Bryan, left open the question of whether Lindell acted with “actual malice,” which Smartmatic must prove to win any damages.

The judge pointed out that there are real disagreements regarding Lindell’s intent. He noted that Lindell may genuinely believe in the truth of his statements. Lindell’s claims primarily centered on the election results from Los Angeles County, which voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidate Joe Biden. He accused Smartmatic’s machines of switching votes from Trump to Biden.

The court identified 51 instances where Lindell spread false information about Smartmatic’s involvement in the election. “No reasonable trier of fact could find that any of the statements are true,” Bryan wrote.

Smartmatic’s lawyer, Erik Connolly, stated they will pursue significant damages, claiming, “Smartmatic did not and could not have rigged the 2020 election.” They have had recent successes, having reached settlements with two conservative news outlets last year and still pursuing a case against Fox News.

Lindell has faced similar challenges related to Dominion Voting Systems. After losing a defamation case against one of its former employees, a jury awarded $2.3 million in damages.

Despite the legal troubles, Lindell remains outspoken. He called Smartmatic “one of the most corrupt companies in the world,” pledging to continue his campaign against voting machines, even suggesting he may take the fight to the Supreme Court.

In a notable move, Lindell has returned to Minnesota, possibly eyeing a gubernatorial run against the current governor, Tim Walz. Although MyPillow has faced financial difficulties, Lindell experienced a legal win recently, where a court ruled he should not pay a $5 million arbitration award related to a defamation case involving unproven claims of election interference by China.

This ongoing situation highlights a significant era in American politics where misinformation has raised concerns about the integrity of elections. A 2021 report from the Brennan Center for Justice noted that more than 400 laws aiming to restrict voting have been introduced across the country, showing the extent of division over election credibility.

Public reactions remain mixed. Many on social media continue to share their views on these developments, often reflecting deep divisions in public opinion about election integrity and the role of technology in democratic processes.

For further details on election integrity issues, you can visit the Brennan Center for Justice.

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Tim Walz, Mike Lindell, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, General news, Minnesota, Elections, MN State Wire, California, Erik Connolly, U.S. news, Jeffrey Bryan, Politics, Mike Lindell-Smartmatic, Voting, Minneapolis, Courts, U.S. News