Pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell is still falsely insisting the 2020 election was stolen, refusing to provide proof he promises to have, and seeing his fraud fantasies debunked under the slightest scrutiny.
Since Trump lost the 2020 election, nearly a year ago, Lindell has promised that Trump actually won by a landslide, but saw victory "stolen" from him by Democrats engaging with elections software companies and foreign countries to facilitate widespread fraud.
Lindell's delusions aren't just limited to swing states Trump lost—he's also claiming widespread fraud in states Trump won, such as Idaho.
Lindell insisted that electronic voting systems in all of Idaho's 44 counties switched Trump votes to Biden votes. In reality, multiple counties in Idaho don't conduct elections electronically at all.
Nevertheless, officials in Idaho decided to put Lindell's claims to the test by doing a hand recount of two counties in the state.
Unsurprisingly, Lindell's claims of election fraud yet again collapsed under even the most basic scrutiny. Officials hand recounted ballots in Butte and Camas counties which predictably upheld the results of the 2020 election, with the hand recounts exactly matching or landing within the margin of error for the original electronic tallies.
If that weren't humiliating enough for Lindell, his critics were annoyed that taxpayer dollars went toward Idaho entertaining his election fantasies.
All in all, the audits cost around $6,500 and were covered through the federal Democracy fund, but Idaho'sChief Deputy Secretary of State, Chad Houck, says they intend to send a bill to Lindell for reimbursement, according to the Idaho Statesman.
Houck, a Republican, said:
"Why not try and get Lindell to reimburse the state for having to refute his false claim?"
He even said the state is looking into legal options to force Lindell to pay, emphasizing that
"It takes hard work to build confidence in a state's elections system, and careless accusations like this can cause tremendous harm. Doing nothing and saying nothing would have been like conceding its truth."
Read more at: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article254838702.html#storylink=cpy
The payment shouldn't be a problem for Lindell, as he offered $5 million to any reporter or data scientist who could disprove his lies that the 2020 election was "stolen" from Donald trump. Attempts to take Lindell up on his offer, however, have gone ignored.
There's speculation that Lindell—who's currently embroiled in billion dollar defamation lawsuits from the election companies he smeared—won't be able to afford it.
Ask for cash, no checks.\nAll of it up front.https://twitter.com/essenviews/status/1446313357305278467\u00a0\u2026— Gary R. Rasberry Jr. (@Gary R. Rasberry Jr.) 1633699841
Good hit it where it hurts, his wallet.https://twitter.com/essenviews/status/1446313357305278467\u00a0\u2026— RoyBoyCPA2 (@RoyBoyCPA2) 1633699765
Shoulda made him pay up front.\nJust sayin.— 603TD (@603TD) 1633663816
I\u2019ve heard that Lindell is broke.\n\nMaybe he\u2019ll give Idaho store credit.— Shelley\u2019s Heart \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@Shelley\u2019s Heart \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7) 1633702359
I hope they do bill him and send him to collections when its not paid.— tidbitsandwhatnots (@tidbitsandwhatnots) 1633663591
People were supportive of the move.
GOOD!https://twitter.com/essenviews/status/1446313357305278467\u00a0\u2026— Marcie (@Marcie) 1633698623
Good! Do it!!!!! https://twitter.com/essenviews/status/1446313357305278467\u00a0\u2026— Whoola (@Whoola) 1633695878
Hell yes!— Enforce the Subpoenas! - Politically Incorrect (@Enforce the Subpoenas! - Politically Incorrect) 1633663234
Lindell shows no signs of backtracking his lies.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram