The CEO of Minnesota-based MyPillow is the latest Trump insider to get swept up in the Justice Department's investigation into the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a supporter of Donald Trump who has continually backed the former president's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, said he was served a federal subpoena Tuesday and that his phone was seized.
This was later confirmed by the FBI, but the agency didn't provide any other details.
Lindell says FBI agents approached him after he ordered food at a Hardee's drive-thru in Mankato, Minnesota. Speaking to the WCCO Morning News with KSTP Chief Political reporter Tom Hauser, Lindell said the FBI cut them off and confiscated his phone.
“He goes, ‘well, we have a subpoena for it’, and I said, you know what, I'd rather you arrest me,” Lindell tells WCCO. “I said, this phone runs everything. I do my, recovery network, my company, everything. And I said, can I call a lawyer? I said, do I have to give him this phone? He goes, ‘ yes Mike, give him the phone’”.
The FBI interaction happened in Mankato as he returned from hunting that morning in Iowa, according to Lindell.
The agents questioned him about Dominion Voting Systems, Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and his connection to Doug Frank, an Ohio educator who claims voting machines have been manipulated, he said.
The FBI provided a letter to Lindell saying he shouldn't speak publicly or talk to anyone about the phone confiscation and investigation. Lindell says the public needs to know. Lindell says he is being "attacked" and "targeted" unfairly.
"I'm not going to have you guys keep hiding all this stuff from the public," Lindell said. "No, I'm didn't go by their little thing. 'Please don't tell anyone Mike'. OK, I won't. Yeah right, give me a break."
Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice served more than 30 subpoenas to former President Donald Trump's officials and aides related to the January 6 insurrection.
On a video version of his podcast, Lindell displayed a letter signed by an assistant U.S. attorney in Colorado that said prosecutors were conducting an "official criminal investigation of a suspected felony" and noted the use of a federal grand jury.
During the interview on WCCO Radio, Lindell continued to claim Dominion Voting Systems used technology to "steal" the Election from Trump. Lindell has already been involved in a lawsuit with Dominion claiming defamation for the false claims.
Since the 2020 election, no evidence has been provided that would suggest there was widespread fraud or manipulation of electronic voting. Reviews in each state, including Colorado, have upheld the results showing President Joe Biden won.
Related
