Federal Judge Sides with Election Tech Giant Smartmatic, Targets Mike Lindell for Challenging 2020 Election Integrity

A federal judge in Minnesota has issued a controversial ruling against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, declaring that he defamed election technology company Smartmatic by making statements about its involvement in the 2020 presidential election. The ruling, handed down on Friday, asserts that Lindell's claims were unsubstantiated and allegedly damaged Smartmatic's reputation, a decision that many see as a blow to those raising legitimate concerns about election integrity.

Judge Jeffrey Bryan stated that Lindell's assertions regarding Smartmatic's role in the election were false and that no reasonable person could believe them. However, the judge stopped short of ruling on whether Lindell acted with 'actual malice,' a requirement for Smartmatic to collect damages. Bryan acknowledged there are 'genuine fact disputes' about Lindell's awareness of the accuracy of his statements, reflecting the ongoing debate over what constitutes protected speech.

The statements under scrutiny involved Lindell's allegations that Smartmatic's voting machines were used to alter votes in favor of President Joe Biden in Los Angeles County, California. While Smartmatic's technology was reportedly only used in Los Angeles County during the 2020 election and no evidence has been produced to support claims of vote manipulation, the public's right to question and investigate election processes remains vital in a democracy.

Smartmatic's attorney, Erik Connolly, announced that the company would pursue significant damages from Lindell and MyPillow for what they call the spreading of false information. 'Smartmatic did not and could not have rigged the 2020 election,' Connolly stated. 'It was impossible, and everything that Mr. Lindell said about Smartmatic was false.'

Lindell, undeterred by the ruling, expressed disbelief and reiterated his concerns about Smartmatic, vowing to continue his campaign for election transparency by advocating for paper ballots over electronic voting machines. He also mentioned the possibility of appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, highlighting the ongoing fight for election integrity.

This ruling is just one in a series of legal battles faced by Lindell and MyPillow as they challenge the official narrative of the 2020 election. Smartmatic has previously reached settlements with other media outlets and continues to aggressively pursue legal action against those who question the company's role in the election, raising important questions about free speech and the ability to scrutinize powerful corporations.