Dominion Voting Systems has agreed to dismiss its $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and his company, MyPillow, concluding a years-long legal battle that stemmed from claims made after the 2020 presidential election. Court filings submitted this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia confirmed that the parties reached a confidential settlement. The agreement stipulates that the case is dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, and each side will bear its own attorney fees and legal costs. The specific financial terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed.
"They dropped the lawsuit after five and a half years. MyPillow was being sued for $1.3 billion. My employee-owned company, they had this hanging over their head for that long." — Mike Lindell, MyPillow Founder
The lawsuit, originally filed by Dominion in February 2021, alleged that Lindell and MyPillow repeatedly promoted false claims regarding the company’s voting machines. Dominion contended that these machines were used to manipulate the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. The company sought $1.3 billion in damages, arguing that Lindell's public statements, made through various media appearances, interviews, social media posts, and online platforms, caused significant reputational and financial harm. Furthermore, Dominion asserted that these claims exposed its company and employees to threats and harassment.
Mike Lindell announced the dismissal during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s "War Room" podcast, characterizing the outcome as a significant victory after more than five years of litigation. He highlighted the impact of the lawsuit on his employee-owned company, stating, “They dropped the lawsuit after five and a half years. MyPillow was being sued for $1.3 billion. My employee-owned company, they had this hanging over their head for that long.” Following the announcement, Lindell reiterated his long-standing criticism of electronic voting systems, advocating for paper ballots, hand-counted elections, and the complete elimination of voting machines. He also referenced an 800-page report which he claims contains evidence supporting his election assertions.
Throughout the course of the litigation, Lindell consistently maintained that his public statements were protected under the First Amendment. He repeatedly affirmed his intention to continue questioning election security protocols and the widespread use of electronic voting systems. Lindell had previously estimated that the lawsuit incurred approximately $20 million in legal expenses, imposing considerable financial strain on both himself and MyPillow during the period the case was pending.
This settlement marks the conclusion of one of Dominion's last high-profile defamation cases originating from the contentious aftermath of the 2020 election. The voting technology company previously reached a substantial $787.5 million settlement with Fox News related to similar defamation claims. Additionally, Dominion has resolved several other lawsuits involving various allies of President Donald Trump.
During the period of litigation, Dominion Voting Systems also underwent a significant corporate restructuring. Last year, the company was acquired by Liberty Vote, an entity now led by Scott Leiendecker, a former Republican election official. Despite this change in ownership, the lawsuit against Lindell continued until the confidential settlement was reached this week.
While the Dominion lawsuit against MyPillow has concluded, Lindell continues to face other legal challenges. Earlier this year, a federal jury in Colorado found him liable for defaming Eric Coomer, a former Dominion executive, and awarded Coomer approximately $2.3 million in damages. Lindell has publicly stated his intent to appeal this verdict. He is also involved in separate ongoing litigation initiated by Smartmatic, another voting technology company. Furthermore, MyPillow itself continues to navigate additional financial and legal pressures distinct from the recently dismissed Dominion lawsuit.
With the confidential settlement now finalized and the case dismissed with prejudice, the extensive legal dispute between Dominion Voting Systems and Mike Lindell has officially concluded, bringing to a close one of the most closely observed defamation cases connected to the discourse surrounding the 2020 presidential election.
