Politics and Election News

Judge finds probable cause that Lindell violated campaign finance law

A red, white and blue tour bus for the Mike Lindell campaign is parked in a lot.
A Mike Lindell campaign bus is parked outside of a high school in Sauk Centre, Minn., on July 23.
Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval | MPR News

A panel of three judges will hear a complaint that Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell violated campaign finance rules by giving away pillows during campaign events.

Administrative Law Judge Nicholas Lienesch found the complaint against Lindell had enough probable cause to move on to an evidentiary hearing in front of a three-judge administrative panel.

The complaint says Lindell threw pillows from the company he started, MyPillow, to the crowd as he campaigned at a July 4 parade in Delano.

Under state law, a person cannot give away something of monetary value to induce a person to vote in a certain way, although there is an exception for food or drink under five dollars in value. Lindell testified that the pillows were purchased wholesale for $4.90 per pillow, and included campaign literature.

No hearing date has been set, but it is unlikely to happen before Tuesday's primary.