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Advocacy Blog
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Citizens United Again Denied Relief from Donor Disclosure Law
The US District Court for the District of Columbia denied a challenge to donor disclosure requirements of those paying for broadcast messages in the weeks before an election under Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules. Citizens United, a 501(c)(4) organization filed a lawsuit against the FEC claiming that television ads for its film, Hillary: The Movie, should not be subject to donor disclosure requirements under FEC rules. In January a three-judge panel ruled against the group.
The case involves FEC rules for electioneering communications, television and radio commercials mentioning the name of a federal candidate aired 60 days before the general election or 30 days before a primary. Any electioneering communication that is allowed is subject to disclosure and disclaimer requirements.
According to the July 18 opinion, all three judges agreed there were "no genuine issues of material fact presented," and therefore not enough evidence to go forward and their summary judgment request was denied.
According to BNA Money and Politics ($$), Citizens United will file an appeal with the Supreme Court, but since the Court is now in recess there will not be any action on the case until late September.
Citizens United has now announced plans to release in September a new movie focused on Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). And at least for now, donor disclosure rules remain in place.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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