Mike Lindell, the inventor of MyPillow
Dominion Voting Systems has sued a number of publications and individuals since last November's election, when its machines were used in states where presidential election results gave rise to suspicion of election fraud.
One man targeted by the company is Mike Lindell, the pro-Trump businessman who runs the MyPillow business empire.
Now he's responding.
Lindell and MyPillow Inc. on Monday sued Dominion Voting Systems seeking more than $1.6 billion in damages.
The privately held company explained it is suing to protect free speech in the country – and to collect damages for harms it has suffered.
"This lawsuit is brought in support of the marketplace of ideas and to remedy the grave harm that has been suffered by MyPillow as a result of Dominion’s suppression of speech and attacks on the Company,” the suit said.
The Duluth News Tribune in Minnesota, where Lindell's organization is based, said the case in U.S. District Court in Minnesota explains Dominion tried to "silence" and "punish" Lindell for his opinions about the election and the election voting machine company.
Dominion's earlier claim against Lindell sought $1.3 billion.
Lindell was among the Trump supporters who worked on post-election cases and campaigns to challenge the results of the election, based on sworn statements of witnesses to fraud and other anomalies, such as huge dumps of all-Joe Biden ballots coming during the dark-of-the-night hours.
Dozens of legal cases failed as virtually no judge heard the evidence that was presented, cancelling the challenges based on technical points.
What has not, however, been challenged are statements that various state officials across the nation arbitrarily changed state election laws and procedures – without permission from state lawmakers to whom the Constitution assigns that responsibility – for the 2020 election.
Lindell alleges that by trying to silence his speech about the election and the machines, Dominion is violating his right to free speech under the First Amendment.
His case argues that Dominion essentially was acting as the government in its role of administering the election and counting the votes, and so it should be viewed as a government entity, subjecting it to First Amendment requirements.
Lindell, discussing the issue on his new social media site called Frank on Monday, said, "This is all about the First Amendment rights and free speech."
Business Insider said Lindell "has repeatedly supported his claims challenging the integrity of the 2020 presidential election."
Lindell has blamed the leftist "cancel culture" in America for a number of retailers discontinuing sales of his products.
A report at The Gateway Pundit noted that famed lawyer Alan Dershowitz was working on the case on behalf of Lindell.
"Dershowitz explained why Dominion is guilty of violating the First Amendment Rights of Mike Lindell as well as the rights of the media to report the news: 'We’re gonna sue you and put you out of business, and we’re not even going to let you see our source codes so you can see what we’re suing you about,'" the report said.
Dershowitz cited Dominion's decision to conceal its source code for machines counting ballots.
"It’s as if My Pillow were accused of having some secret poison in its formula, and you couldn’t tell it by just looking at the pillow, and then somehow My Pillow said, we’re not going to give your our formula, we’re going to hide it from you. That’s what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to hide what they’re doing—at the same time that they’re trying to prevent you from entering the marketplace of ideas. They’re in the marketplace of ideas. They’re not only in the marketplace of ideas; they’re in the economic marketplace too. They’re to shut you out of being able to sell your products in stores. They’re trying to silence you, and they’re doing it as the government of the United States. That’s why I’m in this case," he aid.
He explained the applicability of the First Amendment, which normally applies to government bureaucrats and agencies.
"Dominion is the government for purposes of the lawsuit," he said.
He charged that Dominion is a "government actor" in the case and it is Lindell's right "to look at Dominion's source to determine exactly what was going on."
He warned that Lindell would not be the last target without his lawsuit.
"If they can silence Mike Lindell and My Pillow—they can silence YOU! You should be on our side. You should be seeking the source codes. You should be defending free speech," he said.
Dominion's claim against Lindell alleges he used his attacks on the voting machine company as a sales strategy.
Dominion also alleged that Lindell's opinions about the election process and results were a "lie."
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