Current:Home > BackHe 'Proved Mike Wrong.' Now he's claiming his $5 million-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
He 'Proved Mike Wrong.' Now he's claiming his $5 million
View Date:2024-12-23 22:52:15
Software engineer Robert Zeidman, who used his data analytics skills to debunk a false 2020 election conspiracy theory promoted by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, says he has received many congratulatory messages, including from supporters of former President Donald Trump.
"I've made the argument that Lindell is hurting Trump much more than he's helping him because everything Lindell is presenting is so obviously bogus that it just makes any talk about voter fraud or voter integrity look silly. So even big Trump supporters thanked me," Zeidman said in an interview with Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep.
It started in August 2021, when the Las Vegas-based computer expert entered the "Prove Mike Wrong Challenge," in which Lindell offered $5 million to anyone who could prove that data he claimed shows China interfered in the 2020 presidential election were inaccurate.
After Zeidman determined that the data provided during a three-day "Cyber Symposium" in Sioux Falls, S.D., had nothing to do with the 2020 election results, Lindell refused to pay the promised amount. Last week, an arbitration panel ruled in Zeidman's favor and ordered Lindell to pay up.
"[Mr. Zeidman] proved the data Lindell LLC provided [...] unequivocally did not reflect November 2020 election data," the arbitrators wrote. "Failure to pay Mr. Zeidman the $5 million prize was a breach of the contract, entitling him to recover."
Despite the ruling, Zeidman, who describes himself as a conservative Republican, does not expect to see any money.
"Lindell will delay it as long as he can. But I also think he's going to lose in the cases that are brought against him by Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, the voting machine companies," he says. "I think that'll put him out of business for good."
Both companies have filed defamation lawsuits against Lindell, claiming he falsely accused them of rigging the 2020 presidential election.
Lindell did not respond to a request for comment, but he told The Associated Press last week that he has no intention of paying the $5 million to Zeidman and that he expects the dispute will end up in court.
Zeidman, who voted for Trump twice, says the data provided at the symposium not only failed to prove any Chinese election interference that could have tipped the outcome in favor of Joe Biden, the data included no discernible information whatsoever.
"It was pages and pages of numbers. And in other cases, a table full of gibberish, as if someone had sat there for hours and just typed random stuff into a word processor," he says.
It took Zeidman just hours to disprove Lindell's election fraud claims based on the data provided. After submitting a 15-page report that laid out the specifics of his findings, Zeidman called his wife confidently telling her: "Think about what you want to do with $5 million."
That call came a little premature as it turns out, but Zeidman tells NPR that he's just thrilled that people appreciate what he did.
And whether he would vote for Trump for a third time, he hasn't made a decision: "I hope I have another choice in the upcoming election."
Ben Abrams produced the audio version.
veryGood! (67932)
Related
- Stop smartphone distractions by creating a focus mode: Video tutorial
- Stock market today: Asian shares advance following Wall Street rally led by technology stocks
- NFL Black Monday: Latest on coaches fired, front-office moves
- Horoscopes Today, January 8, 2024
- NFL Week 10 injury report: Live updates on active, inactive players for Sunday's games
- Nicholas Alahverdian extradited to US four years after faking his death. What to know.
- In 2011, a headless woman was found in a posed position in a California vineyard. She's finally been identified.
- Latest on FA Cup after third round: Arsenal eliminated, seven EPL teams in replays
- Justice Department says jail conditions in Georgia’s Fulton County violate detainee rights
- Boeing jetliner that suffered inflight blowout was restricted because of concern over warning light
Ranking
- US overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
- Flooded Vermont capital city demands that post office be restored
- NFL Black Monday: Latest on coaches fired, front-office moves
- Five reasons why Americans and economists can't agree on the economy
- FSU football fires offensive, defensive coordinators, wide receivers coach
- Pakistani officer wounded while protecting polio vaccination workers dies, raising bombing toll to 7
- 4 people charged over alleged plot to smuggle hundreds of Australian native reptiles to Hong Kong
- Opening statements expected in trial over constitutional challenge to Georgia voting system
Recommendation
-
Jessica Simpson’s Sister Ashlee Simpson Addresses Eric Johnson Breakup Speculation
-
Judge orders new North Dakota legislative district for 2 Native American tribes
-
Slain Hezbollah commander fought in some of the group’s biggest battles, had close ties to leaders
-
These are the top 3 Dow Jones stocks to own in 2024, according to Wall Street
-
Advance Auto Parts is closing hundreds of stores in an effort to turn its business around
-
Gillian Anderson wears dress with embroidered vaginas to Golden Globes: 'Brand appropriate'
-
Shooter kills 2 people at Minnesota motel and is later found dead, police say
-
Radio giant Audacy files for bankruptcy to reduce $1.9 billion debt