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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell told a district court judge he is "in ruins" and unable to pay $56,396 to voting software company Smartmatic.
Newsweek contacted Lindell for comment via the online MyPillow inquiry form.
Why It Matters
Lindell has been an outspoken supporter of President Trump's discredited claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against him.
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The MyPillow CEO is facing a number of lawsuits in response to his claims that certain companies which provided software or voting machines used at the election were involved in rigging the result.
What To Know
Appearing before Washington District Court Judge Carl Nichols on Wednesday via Zoom, Lindell said he was financially "in ruins" and not able to pay $56,396 to Smartmatic, which a court ordered him to after concluding he filed a frivolous counterclaim in a defamation lawsuit.
Lindell made the move in response to a defamation suit against him from Dominion Voting Systems, which provided electric voting machines used in the 2020 presidential elections.
Lindell said that despite his company once having brought in $300 million a year in revenue he was now living off $1,000 a week due to "lawfare" against him, and doesn't "have $5,000 or five cents."
He asserted he has "nothing" except for two houses, which are currently being liquidated, and a truck.
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Lindell said he and his company owe more than $70 million in debt and back payments to the IRS. According to ABC News Lindell was "teary" during his online court appearance.
In March Smartmatic filed a motion calling for Lindell to be held in civil contempt in response to his non-payment of the $56,369.
Judge Nichols told Lindell he has until Friday to provide the court with financial documentation supporting his claims, Lindell said he would oblige and said: "I have nothing to hide."
Separately in March a Minnesota judge found Lindell in contempt after he failed to attend court as part of Smartmatic's separate ongoing defamation case against him. A trial date has yet to be set in this case.
In February FedEx sued Lindell for nearly $9 million in a Tennessee federal court which the company claimed it was owed in unpaid delivery fees.
What People Are Saying
Speaking to the judge Lindell said: "I borrowed everything I can. Nobody will lend me any money anymore. I can't turn back time... but I will tell you, I don't have any money."
Referring to Lindell at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February President Trump said: "That man suffered. That man suffered. The FBI thugs went up to him and they took away everything he had. He suffered. And Mrs. Lindell.
"He's a great guy. They went after him, it was just terrible. This was a vicious weaponization of your government. But he's all, I'll tell you, he stood up, he's all man. He stood up, he stood up strong, and nothing was going to phase him."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Lindell will provide the financial documents he has pledged to do by the end of Friday. Lindell remains embroiled in a series of other legal battles related to his commercial and political activities.
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