A federal judge in Michigan on Tuesday sanctioned MyPillow CEO and election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell for going on an election ballot “fishing expedition”—filing over-broad subpoenas seeking Kent County’s voting data, in a failed attempt to defend himself against Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Phillip Green on Tuesday granted a motion by Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons to revoke Lindell’s subpoena, saying the MyPillow CEO’s request was unduly burdensome and ordered Lindell to cover the county’s legal costs.
Lyons had argued that complying with Lindell’s request would cost the county millions of dollars.
Lindell has also served third-party subpoenas on the Michigan counties of Berrien, Calhoun, Saginaw and Wayne for their election records but only Kent County sought to have its subpoena quashed.
Judge Green ordered Kent County’s attorney to file a report for costs within 14 days. Lindell then has 14 days to respond.
A passionate backer of former President Trump, the pillow manufacturer daily spouts 2020 election denialism and conspiracies about voter fraud on his online network, Lindell TV.
Dominion Voting Systems asserts in its suit against Lindell that he “made demonstrably false statements that Dominion stole the 2020 election.”
The company has opposed Lindell issuing third-party subpoenas for its “confidential and proprietary materials.”
Recently Lindell has said he will run for Chair of the Republican National Committee, saying the current RNC Chair, Ronna McDaniel, has not worked hard enough to combat voter fraud.
