For the second time in three months, a federal judge is scrutinizing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s noncompliance with a court directive, hinting at the possibility of “additional contempt sanctions.” Lindell, known for promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, remains under legal pressure.

Presiding over defamation lawsuits linked to Dominion Voting Systems post-2020 election, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Donald Trump appointee, is at the helm of these proceedings. Judge Nichols has been navigating the legal intricacies surrounding these high-profile cases.

Previously, Nichols mandated Lindell to pay over $50,000 to Smartmatic, a voting machine firm now facing indictment. Smartmatic’s technology was exclusively utilized in Los Angeles County during the 2020 elections. This order came amid the complex legal battles Lindell is entangled in.

Smartmatic’s involvement as a third-party defendant in the Dominion case followed Lindell’s countersuit, which alleged RICO violations. Judge Nichols imposed $56,369 in sanctions due to certain “frivolous” claims within Lindell’s countersuit, further complicating matters for the CEO.

In March, Smartmatic took action by filing a motion to hold Lindell in civil contempt, citing his failure to make any payments or engage in meaningful discussions regarding a payment plan. This motion underscores the ongoing legal challenges facing Lindell as he navigates the consequences of his actions.

A recent status report explained what happened next. In April, the judge asked Lindell to demonstrate his “inability to pay” and the pillow mogul “submitted sealed financial records on April 18[.]”

In early June, Smartmatic said, the company “filed under seal a Declaration and certain information pertaining to its understanding of Mr. Lindell”s financial position,” and served copies on Lindell’s counsel “the same day.” Nichols one week later “issued a sealed order to Defendants.”

On Halloween, Nichols ordered Lindell to explain “why he has not complied” with that sealed order. Lindell attorney Christopher Kachouroff, in turn, offered up as an explanation that he wasn’t able to access the sealed orders and hadn’t received them by mail.

Kachouroff, seeking an extension, also revealed that Lindell had “obtained new counsel who is expected to enter an appearance within weeks and the undersigned is working diligently to transition this case to new counsel.”

Nichols responded by granting that extension, issuing an order directing the clerk’s office and Smartmatic to “ensure” Lindell’s team received copies of both the sealed order and Smartmatic’s declaration and filed exhibits about Lindell’s finances, and setting a deadline for an update in mid-December.

The ensuing Smartmatic update stated that its assessment of Lindell’s finances showed he “raised an additional $86,000 for his legal defense fund, totaling $448,819” and, in addition, “based upon publicly available documentation,” raised “$125,222 in defense funds” relating to the defamation lawsuit that Smartmatic brought in Minnesota.

Smartmatic further said it “provided the documents” to Lindell’s “new counsel,” without naming the attorney or attorneys. As of Tuesday, the court docket still lists Kachouroff as Lindell’s lead attorney of record.

Nichols’ Monday minute order set a deadline of Jan. 19 at the latest for Lindell to show cause “for why he has still not complied with the Sealed Order” and the judge’s Oct. 31 order.

Nichols then put Lindell on notice, issuing a clear warning that threatened “further contempt sanctions” if he fails to govern himself accordingly.

“The Court warns Defendant Lindell that failure to comply with this order may result in further contempt sanctions,” the judge said.