MyPillow CEO and founder Mike Lindell speaks to reporters at his MyPillow factory in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee, Minn., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, as he launches his campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)
Pillow magnate and Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell has found himself in legal jeopardy once again after his campaign gave away thousands of pillows at a July 4 parade earlier this year, which may have violated the state's campaign finance laws.
During the Independence Day parade in Deano, Lindell and his campaign had an RV and truck filled with about 5,000 pillows, which were given away to attendees in violation of the state's Fair Campaign Practices law, according to a complaint filed by Dan Fiskom, an attorney who is running for the Minnesota State Senate in District 29.
That law "prohibits giving something of monetary value, or promising something of value, to a person in order to induce or deter voting in a particular way in an election."
"The Complaint alleges that Respondent directly distributed pillows marked 'Mike Lindell for Governor' from a parade float decorated with signs that said the same, in order to induce voters to vote for Respondent," a filing in the case states. "The Complaint further alleges the pillows have a monetary value of $34.95. Taking the allegations in the Complaint as true, as required at this stage, the Complaint sets forth a prima facie violation of state law."
The parties appeared virtually for a probable cause hearing on Monday before Administrative Law Judge Nicholas B. Lienesch.
During the hearing, Lindell, a close ally of President Donald Trump and staunch election denier, immediately asserted that the controversy was nothing more than "just a big misunderstanding."
Lindell argued that the pillows provided by his campaign actually had a monetary value of only $4.90, which meant they fell within a carve-out in the campaign finance law similar to giving away buttons or shirts with a value of under $5.
During the hearing, Lindell testified that he called the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board before the parade and was told that he could legally give away the pillows. The board did not immediately respond to a message seeking clarification from Law&Crime.
Fiskom argued that the pillows are listed by MyPillow at prices ranging from about $10 to $30 each. Lindell responded that ordering the product in bulk and using coupon codes allowed anyone to purchase them for under $5 each.
"These aren't full-size pillows," Lindell previously told Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP. "They're little pillows just like if you gave away a hat or a shirt or anything. Our literature is inside it. We followed all the guidelines to the 'T.'"
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