MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell got rich thanks in large part to his big personality and his brash salesmanship — every sale is the “deal of century!” He’s in a Denver courtroom this week, not because he still believes the 2020 election was stolen, but because while hyperbolic claims about pillow value make for perfectly legal radio ads, publicly accusing people of crimes without evidence apparently leads to a defamation lawsuit.
Most of Lindell’s conspiracy beliefs originate with another Coloradan, Joe Oltmann, who is at least partly responsible for the Dominion Voting Systems conspiracy in the first place.
The Colorado Times Recorder has covered Oltmann since October, 2020, after he launched a right-wing group that included a militia.
Our Lindell coverage began in the spring of 2021, when he bankrolled an election fraud conspiracy movie called “Scientific Proof,” which featured an Ohio math teacher named Dr. Douglas Frank making debunked claims about “phantom ballots” and rigged elections.
A few months later, Lindell flew a handful of Coloradans to an election conspiracy conference he dubbed the “Cyber Symposium” in South Dakota. As fall turned to winter, Lindell became so inspired by the efforts of a Colorado election fraud conspiracy group, U.S. Election Integrity Plan, whose members turned Frank’s “phantom ballot” theory into a door-knocking campaign, that Lindell hired the group’s leaders to expand their efforts nationally.
We’ve covered election deniers in Colorado as much as anyone, and given the national attention Lindell’s trial is currently generating, we figured some folks would like to dig deeper. So come along, take this red pill and we’ll show… [Editor’s note: Absolutely not.]
OK fine. Please just enjoy this looooong list of our reporting Lindell and Oltmann, including a few stories from reporter Heidi Beedle’s previous paper, the now-shuttered Colorado Springs Independent.
Oct 12, 2020: Conservative Group Behind Deadly “Patriot Muster” Rally Working Closely With Colorado GOP
Members of Oltmann’s FEC United and its militia arm, United American Defense Force, hold a rally in Denver that turns deadly.
Oct 15, 2020: (Beedle, CS Indy) Who are the militia members showing up at Colorado Springs protests?
Members of United American Defense Force, the militia arm of Oltmann’s FEC United, take up sniper positions above BLM rally.
Oct 16, 2020: FEC United Founder Threatens Journalists at GOP Candidate Event
Oltmann claims he’s discovered 13 “Antifa journalists,” whom he says he will “put on billboards.”
Jan. 14, 2021: Dominion Election Conspiracy Originated in Part During Conservative’s Hunt for ‘Antifa Journalists’
Angered by CTR, CS Indy, and other outlets’ reporting on his group FEC United, Joe Oltmann went hunting for proof that the journalists are members of Antifa.
April 24, 2021: Election Fraud Conspiracies Still Abound Among Colorado Republicans
Douglas Frank in Colorado to share election fraud conspiracies that he also promoted via a Lindell-funded film.
August 11, 2021: (Beedle, CS Indy) Colorado Republicans appear at Lindell’s Cyber Symposium
Tina Peters, the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder then under investigation by the Colorado SOS for a breach of election security protocol, and Colorado Rep. Ron Hanks (R-HD60) made an appearance at MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s Cyber Symposium in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Tuesday.
August 12, 2021: Mesa County Clerk Almost Certainly Took My Pillow CEO’s Private Jet to Election Conspiracy Conference
Lindell sends his private jet to Colorado to bring Tina Peters and other election conspiracists to his “Cyber Symposium.”
August 17, 2021: Colorado Election Conspiracy Group Going Door-to-Door in Search of ‘Phantom Ballots’
Details on Colorado group’s canvassing efforts to prove election fraud conspiracy, which impressed Lindell.
Nov. 29, 2021: MyPillow CEO Hires Colorado Conspiracists to Jet Around Country Pushing Big Lie
Lindell hires Colorado conspiracists, launches national group.
March 5, 2022: FEC United’s Joe Oltmann Sanctioned $32,988.64 by Court in Defamation Suit
Court documents reveal Oltmann skipped his deposition in Coomer lawsuit to attend Lindell’s Cyber Symposium.
April 5, 2022: Top Election Conspiracist Hit With Lawsuit While Protesting at CO Capitol Rally
Lindell served with Coomer lawsuit at Denver conspiracy rally.
April 11, 2022: Joe Oltmann’s Rise to Power in Colorado
Extended timeline of Oltmann coverage, including the origins of his Coomer conspiracy.
May 13, 2022: ‘Probably False,’ Judge Writes in Denial of Oltmann Anti-SLAPP Motion
Judge rules that Oltmann’s claims about Coomer are “probably false.“
Sept. 8, 2022: Tina Peters Subpoenaed in Dominion Executive’s Lawsuit Against MyPillow CEO Lindell
Former Clerk Peters announces she’s been subpoenaed by Coomer, then repeats conspiratorial claims.
Feb. 16, 2023: Eastman Involved in Setting up Oltmann’s Meetings With Trump Officials, Says Oltmann
Oltmann answered questions about his Jan. 6 activities during a deposition for the Coomer defamation lawsuit against Lindell.
April 19, 2023: Election Conspiracist Mike Lindell On Fox News Settlement: ‘This Solidifies I Will Not Have Any Liability!’
Lindell tells CTR that Fox’s $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems means he isn’t liable for any defamatory statements.
Jan. 2, 2024: Defamation, Felony Defendants Rally for Trump in CO Springs
Speakers included Lindell, Peters, and Oltmann
April 11, 2024: Court of Appeals Allows Dominion Exec’s Election Conspiracy Defamation Case to Proceed
Colorado Court of Appeals has affirms Denver district judge’s denial of anti-SLAPP motions filed by defendants in the Coomer defamation case.
June 10, 2024: Election Denier Flees Deposition, Could Face Sanctions, Contempt of Court
Oltmann flees Denver courtroom to avoid answering questions in Coomer deposition.
June 19, 2024: Judge Recommends Contempt for DougCo Election Conspiracist who Fled Deposition
Judge recommends contempt charge for Oltmann after he fled deposition
May 3, 2024: ‘Pure Horsesh*t.’ — Election Deniers Come to Custer County
Lindell and other prominent election conspiracy advocates urged county officials to remove the county’s Dominion voting machines.
Aug. 13, 2024: ‘These People Are Cultists’ — Dueling Meetings to Remove Republicans Scheduled Amid Mike Lindell Visit
Republican infighting intensifies ahead of the El Paso GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner featuring guest speaker Mike Lindell.
Aug. 23, 2024: Trump Ally Flynn Won’t Substantiate CO Election Conspiracist’s Alleged Antifa Call
“I don’t really know,” said retired General Michael Flynn, when asked if the 2020 election was rigged by Dominion during an April 4 deposition
