The conservative pillow magnate revealed the existence of what he called a “corrupt” subpoena from the committee in a text message to CNBC on Wednesday, while insisting that his legal team had taken action to “completely invalidate” the subpoena.
“I wasn’t there on January 6th and yes they did subpoena my phone records but we filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the January 6th committee and Verizon to completely invalidate this corrupt subpoena,” Lindell told the outlet.
In a legal complaint filed on the same day against the committee, its individual members and Verizon, lawyers for Lindell—a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump’s false claims of massive voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election—argue that he is the victim of religious discrimination.
The suit contends that Lindell’s promotion of the false fraud claims were “are motivated, in part, by his strongly held religious beliefs,” noting that Lindell has said there is an unspecified “scriptural basis for” the claims.
“Mr. Lindell’s activities are widely known,” the suit states. “His speeches and publications regularly articulate his religious belief and the scriptural basis for it. He regularly associates with others holding similar religious beliefs to organize 2020 election integrity activities.”
Those “whose identity and association” with Lindell are not “publicly known” may “wish to have such contacts remain confidential,” according to the suit. As a result, exposing the identities of like-minded religious confidantes who support his “efforts to raise awareness of alleged irregularities” would be a violation of Lindell’s religious freedom.
“Compelling disclosure of Mr. Lindell’s religious and political activities and associations is a violation of his First Amendment Freedom of Association rights, Free Exercise of Religion rights, as well as Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Press, and Freedom of Assembly rights,” the document states.
“Enforcement of the Subpoena would violate the rights of Mr. Lindell and of his sources to freedom of religion, speech, press, political expression, and to associate with others to advance their shared beliefs,” it continues. “These rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
The suit also claims the Lindell “enjoys First Amendment protections as a journalist and publisher.” Other claims include an assertion that the subpoena violates the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment provision against unreasonable searches and seizures and that the committee itself was illegally organized because it did not include an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.
Verizon recently informed Lindell of the subpoena, which is said to call for his phone records from November 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021, according to the suit. Lindell’s lawyers are seeking “an order quashing the Subpoena as unlawful and invalid and prohibiting its enforcement” and declarations that the subpoena was unconstitutional.
Newsweek reached out to the January 6 committee, the office of committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Verizon and MyPillow for comment.
