'Defendants disobeyed': Judge holds Trump ally Mike Lindell in contempt of court

U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan found that MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was in contempt of a court ruling ordering him to disclose information after voting machine company Smartmatic sued him for defamation for falsely claiming that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against President Donald Trump.

In a 16-page ruling on Thursday, Bryan concluded that "defendants disobeyed" an order to turn over viewership for michaeljlindell.com and "failed to produce documents" requested by the court.

"Therefore, the Court grants Smartmatic's motion and finds Defendants in contempt," the judge wrote. "After review of the record, the Court concludes that Defendants mischaracterize the information that they disclosed."

"Smartmatic has shown by clear and convincing evidence that Defendants failed to produce the data requested," he continued. "The Court will award Smartmatic reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in preparing this motion for contempt upon Smartmatic's submission of an accounting of those fees and costs."

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In January, U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Lindell to pay $50,000 in sanctions for "frivolous" claims.

Smartmatic ultimately seeks $2 billion in damages over Lindell's false election claims.