MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell scored a major legal victory Wednesday when a federal appeals court threw out a $5 million arbitration award that had been granted to a software developer who challenged Lindell’s 2020 election data claims.
A three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the arbitration panel overstepped its authority by rewriting clear contract terms related to Lindell’s contest.
“Fair or not, agreed-to contract terms may not be modified by the panel or by this court,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge James Loken in the decision.
“This Is Vindication,” Says Lindell
Speaking to The Hill, Lindell said the ruling proves he was set up.
“This is vindication. This opens a door that no man can shut. I am so excited. I mean, this is an answer to prayer.”
Background: The $5M Challenge
Lindell launched a “Cyber Symposium” in South Dakota in 2021, where he offered $5 million to anyone who could prove that the data he presented was not connected to foreign interference in the 2020 election.
Software developer Robert Zeidman submitted a report attempting to debunk Lindell’s data. Although the contest’s judges initially rejected Zeidman’s claim, he brought the dispute to arbitration—as permitted by the contest rules.
The arbitration panel ruled in Zeidman’s favor, stating that Lindell failed to provide “packet capture” data, or PCAP files, and therefore the evidence didn’t qualify as election-related.
Appeals Court Reverses Decision
The 8th Circuit disagreed, ruling that the arbitrators rewrote the contract by requiring PCAP data, even though the original terms made no such demand.
“The panel effectively amended the unambiguous Challenge contract… thereby violating Minnesota contract law,” Judge Loken wrote.
The court ordered the $5 million award be vacated or sent back to a lower court for further review in line with the ruling.
All three appellate judges were Republican appointees, including Judge L. Steven Grasz, appointed by President Trump.
Developer’s Attorney Pushes Back
Zeidman’s attorney Brian Glasser defended the original arbitration outcome:
“Your readers can judge for themselves if the Eighth Circuit’s decision… rings in truth louder than the unanimous decision of three arbitrators who heard all the evidence.”
Lindell Still Faces Other Legal Battles
Lindell remains entangled in lawsuits tied to his efforts to expose alleged fraud in the 2020 election:
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In June, a Colorado jury ordered him to pay $2.3 million to a former Dominion Voting Systems employee in a defamation case.
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He still faces active defamation lawsuits from both Dominion and Smartmatic.
Despite legal pressure, Lindell remains defiant.
“Before those [cases] ever even get to trial, you’re going to see the big win will be as you watch me melting down these machines and turning them into prison bars,” he said.
