DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — Joe Oltmann talks a lot. The podcaster talks about hanging his political enemies and a coming age of political violence. Now a judge is ordering Oltmann to put his money where his mouth is.
The Douglas County conservative activist and podcaster who created an election rigging conspiracy theory that was repeated by former President Donald Trump's campaign is being ordered to provide evidence or pay a daily fine to the Coloradan he accused of fixing the 2020 election.
A court said Oltmann owes a former Dominion Voting Systems employee $1,000 a day, starting this week, for as long as he continues withholding evidence of his election rigging claims.
Oltmann was named as a non-party in a defamation suit by Eric Coomer, the former director of product security and strategy for Dominion Voting Systems. He is also facing a defamation and conspiracy lawsuit from Coomer for claims Oltmann made back in 2020.
On his podcast Thursday, Oltmann was initially defiant.
"I'll be damned if I write a check to that piece of s---," Oltmann said.
But then Oltmann acknowledged he might ask his listeners for financial support.
"I'll probably put something out that asks for your support," Oltmann said with resignation.
"We'll figure it out," Oltmann said. "Everything I have is in my retirement. It should be easy. I have worked my entire life and literally have to walk away having nothing because of these pieces of trash."
In November 2020, Oltmann claimed to have heard an "Antifa conference call" where an employee of Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems suggested the election was rigged in favor of Joe Biden.
“I think this is a conspiracy to commit fraud against the American people,” Oltmann told KNUS host Peter Boyles on Nov. 18. “This is a massive, massive, massive putting your finger on the scales of the election.”
Oltmann hasn't provided evidence to back up the accusation, despite being subpoenaed in Denver District Court.
Oltmann has repeatedly refused to submit evidence to the court, specifically communications with the person only known as "RD" who Oltmann claimed gave him access to the "Antifa call," and the identity of the person who gave Oltmann access to Coomer's private Facebook account.
According to court documents, Oltmann left the courthouse during his deposition. Now, he's facing expensive consequences.
On Wednesday, the judge in the case ordered that Oltmann had to pay the attorney’s fees and costs Coomer incurred as a result of Oltmann's noncompliance with the judge's orders to present evidence.
Oltmann also has to pay Coomer $1,000 a day from Wednesday until he complies with the orders "fully and in good faith." This is an increase from a prior suggested fine of $300 a day, which the court decided "will not likely get Oltmann’s full and complete attention."
According to court documents, "Oltmann has repeatedly flouted orders—not only in this case, but in others as well—requiring him to answer questions pertaining to who gave him access to the alleged 'Antifa call' and Coomer’s private Facebook account." The court also said Oltmann not only ignored court orders but boasted about it on his podcast, a far-right daily talk show focused on election rigging claims. Oltmann has repeatedly suggested on the show that his perceived political opponents should be executed.
"Oltmann explicitly acknowledged during his deposition and his podcast later that day that he knew about the orders but refused to comply with them, even though he was aware he might be jailed for his noncompliance," court documents say.
On Thursday's podcast, Oltmann again attacked the judge handling the case.
"Did you know that judges actually remove their names and information from anywhere?" Oltmann asked. "They have literally hidden their addresses as if they don't exist."
Oltmann closed his Thursday podcast with another of his frequent predictions of coming political violence.
"November is going to be the start of something very, very, very, very, very, very kinetic," Oltmann said. "Now, do I want that to happen? No, I don't, but I don't want my children to be groomed either. I don't want perverts and Satanists to be the one that gets the last word."