Judge: Probable cause Lindell pillow handout broke MN campaign law
On Friday, August 7, 2026, a Minnesota judge found probable cause that Mike Lindell violated state campaign-finance bribery rules by handing out MyPillows at the July 4 Delano parade.[1]
The judge said Lindell and his supporters tossed MyPillows, which typically sell for about $35, to paradegoers along with campaign literature.[1] Lindell testified his campaign paid $4.90 per pillow wholesale and said similar pillows could be bought individually for $9.95 with a promo code.[1] The judge noted Minnesota law bars giving voters a "thing of monetary value" to influence votes and that a narrow $5 exemption for food and nonalcoholic drinks does not cover pillows.[2] The case has been referred to the state's chief administrative law judge, who will assign a three-judge panel for a full evidentiary hearing.[1]
A complaint filed earlier in the week alleged the pillow handout violated state campaign laws.[3] That complaint prompted the administrative review that produced Friday's probable-cause finding.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, a Minnesota judge formally found probable cause that Mike Lindell violated state campaign-finance bribery rules with his July 4 Delano MyPillow giveaway.
- The ruling says MyPillows, typically sold at about $35, were tossed to paradegoers along with campaign literature at the Delano parade.
- Lindell testified his campaign paid $4.90 per pillow wholesale and that similar pillows could be purchased individually for $9.95 with a promo code.
- The judge noted Minnesota law bars giving voters a "thing of monetary value" to influence votes and that the narrow $5 exemption for food and nonalcoholic drinks does not apply to pillows.
- The case has been referred to the state's chief administrative law judge, who will assign a three-judge panel for a full evidentiary hearing.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- A Minnesota judge has formally found probable cause that Mike Lindell violated Minnesota campaign-finance bribery rules with his July 4 Delano MyPillow giveaway.
- The ruling confirms Lindell and his supporters tossed MyPillows, typically sold at about $35, along with campaign literature at the Delano parade.
- Lindell testified that his campaign paid $4.90 per pillow wholesale and that similar pillows could be bought individually for $9.95 with a promo code.
- The judge notes state law bars giving voters a 'thing of monetary value' to influence votes, with only a narrow $5 exemption for food and non-alcoholic drinks that does not apply to pillows.
- The case is being referred to the state’s chief administrative law judge, who will assign a three-judge panel for a full evidentiary hearing.