MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell said he is on a crusade to get rid of electronic voting machines in favor of hand-counted paper ballots and he’s hoping his defamation trial will provide a “gateway” to keeping the conversation alive.

Lindell took the stand on Monday to defend himself in the federal defamation trial against him. The proceeding is starting its second, and likely final, week.

A former employee of Dominion Voting Systems filed the defamation lawsuit in U.S. District Court, saying he was unfairly accused of rigging the 2020 election for Joe Biden.

Right out of the gate, the plaintiff’s attorney Charles Cain asked Lindell if he takes responsibility for defaming former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer.

“I didn’t do anything to Mr. Coomer,” Lindell said.

“You take no responsibility for what you’ve done?”

“No.”

Coomer, a Colorado resident, alleged that he went into hiding in fear after receiving death threats in part because Lindell targeted him for being involved with “rigging” the 2020 elections. He testified last week that the 4.5-year saga destroyed his 15-year career as a high-level election systems designer, including 10 with Dominion Voting Systems, one of the largest in the country.

On the other hand, Lindell also claimed to have been ruined by Coomer’s lawsuits against him.

Lindell, his company My Pillow Inc., and his former television company, FrankSpeech LLC, are being sued for allegedly defaming Coomer, causing him “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and for civil conspiracy, according to the complaint.

As of April 2025, FrankSpeech had rebranded as Lindell TV.

Lindell testified that he controlled FrankSpeech, just as he does MyPillow.

Frequently, Lindell asked to expand on one-word answers, but Cain told him that he would get that opportunity during cross-examination.

“For now, question and answer, OK?” Cain said.

Coomer, the plaintiff, listened intently to Lindell’s testimony, often casting glances over his shoulder at the jurors and consulting his team of attorneys.

During the two-week trial Lindell is being challenged on 10 allegedly defamatory statements he made against Coomer. In one broadcast, he called on Coomer to be “jailed for treason” for his role in “rigging the elections.”

As a commentator during several broadcasts on Newsmax and on his own network, Lindell accused Coomer of being evil, a criminal and “a traitor to the United States of America.”

The jury watched Lindell’s interviews on screens attached to their seats, including a critical May 9, 2021 appearance on his network FrankSpeech, during which he spoke of Coomer’s alleged role in rigging the 2020 election for Joe Biden.

“If I’m you right now, I’m turning myself in and turning the whole operation so maybe just maybe get immunity,” Lindell said on the appearance. “Maybe you’ll only serve 10-20 years. You’re disgusting. You’re treasonous. You’re a traitor to the United States of America. … The evidence is there.”

A CNN broadcast refuting Lindell’s claims was also aired in the courtroom.

Cain asked Lindell to show proof that Coomer was involved in what the defendant called the biggest crime he has ever seen.

“What evidence do you have that Dr. Coomer covered up (the elections of) 2020?” asked Cain.

“The evidence was he attacked me and sued me,” Lindell answered, visibly upset.

More than once, Lindell addressed Cain at the podium.

“What you lawyers are doing is criminal,” he said.

After allowing Lindell to talk for a few more minutes, Cain asked: “Are you done, sir?”

Lindell continued until U.S. District Judge Nina Wang advised Lindell to “listen to the question and answer that.”

The eight-person jury took notes on legal pads, and appeared to show no emotion.

Lindell, who said he went from a fortune of $50 million to $10 million over his fight to reveal that votes were swapped in 2020, now “has no money left. I personally have nothing left in the world.”

It was revealed in court Monday that supporters have sent more than $360,000, much of it in personal checks, to help fund his legal bills for what he calls “the trial of the century.” Lindell does this through a donation button on his MyPillow website and also with a GoFundMe.

At least two-dozen supporters have traveled from as far away as Florida to attend the trial.

Lindell, who said he is a good friend of President Donald Trump, told the jury that he met with him as recently as a month ago. When asked about those discussions by Cain, he answered that he and Mr. Trump did not discuss the upcoming trial. Lindell, who is an advocate of hand-counted paper ballots, said he assured the president that he will keep fighting to get rid of electronic voting machines.

The defense has not yet presented its case. Lindell and his companies have denied defaming Coomer, arguing that, among other things, they did not exhibit reckless disregard for the truth.

When Cain asked Lindell if his statements against Coomer were reckless, he countered that he didn’t make anything up.

“I couldn’t walk away from revealing the truth and saving the country,” he said.

Lindell was on the stand for eight hours Monday. The testimony continues Tuesday.