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By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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Donald Trump has claimed the U.S. is living in a "Weaponized Police State" following reports MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell had his cellphone seized by the FBI.
Lindell, one of the most prominent 2020 Election conspiracy theorists, said federal agents took his phone while questioning him about Tina Peters, a Colorado clerk who is under incitement over allegations of tampering with election voting equipment.
In a video posted online, Lindell said he was targeted by a "weaponized" FBI, adding what happened to him was "disgusting."
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump also made a similar claim while showing support for the man who frequently backs the false claim the former president lost the last election due to widespread voter fraud.
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"Breaking News: Mike Lindell, 'THE Pillow Guy,' was just raided by the FBI. We are now officially living in a Weaponized Police State, Rigged Elections, and all," wrote Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida was raided by federal agents in August while searching for classified documents.
"Our Country is a laughing stock all over the World. The majesty of the United States is gone. Can't let this happen. TAKE BACK AMERICA!"
Speaking on his online show The Lindell Report, the MyPillow CEO described how FBI agents approached him while he was at a Hardee's fast food restaurant in Mankato, Minnesota.
Lindell said the agents asked him about Peters, Dominion Voting Systems, and Doug Frank, an Ohio math teacher who claims he has a mathematical algorithm to prove the last election was stolen from Trump, which has frequently been debunked.
The agents then told Lindell they had a warrant to seize his phone and ordered him to turn it over.
Lindell shared with the Washington Times a letter he said accompanied the search warrant which stated there is "an official criminal investigation of a suspected felony is being conducted by an agency of the United States and a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Colorado."
Last week, Peters, a Mesa County Clerk who ran for the GOP nomination for Colorado Secretary of State in June, pleaded not guilty to 10 felony and misdemeanor counts including tampering with election equipment and official misconduct.
Peters is accused of allowing an unauthorized person into a secure facility during an annual upgrade to Mesa County's software update conducted by Dominion employees in May, after which sensitive information from the machines was posted online.
In a statement to Newsweek, FBI spokesperson Vikki Migoya said: "In keeping with Department of Justice standard practices, except on rare occasions, the FBI does not confirm or deny, or otherwise provide updates on specific investigations."
She said this would include describing investigative steps, interviews and information that may have been obtained.
"Without commenting on this specific matter, I can confirm that the FBI was at that location executing a search warrant authorized by a federal judge," Migoya said.
"Generally speaking, allegations of criminal conduct are reviewed by the FBI for their merit with consideration of any applicable federal laws, but such a review does not necessarily result in the opening of a full investigation.
"When warranted, we take any actions appropriate to the matter, such as seeking further information, referring the matter to a partner agency or referring our findings to the appropriate U.S. Attorney's Office."
Lindell has been contacted for further comment.
Update 09/14/2022, 10:32 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the FBI.
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