U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols held MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in civil contempt of court after he claimed an "inability to pay" voting machine company Smartmatic sanctions over frivolous claims about the 2020 presidential election.

"His filing represents the latest iteration of a delay tactic spanning nearly five years. This is not an inability to pay. It is a calculated refusal to pay. Only the threat of contempt will move him to comply," Smartmatic told the judge at the time.

On Tuesday, the judge followed through by holding Lindell in civil contempt in a sealed order, Law and Crime reported. It was not immediately clear what additional sanctions the pillow CEO would face.

For his part, Lindell has claimed an "inability to pay" the voting machine company. Smartmatic, however, noted that Lindell's legal defense fund had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and chose to spend $187,037.80 to buy copies of his own book.