The conservative group Citizens United says it is suing New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman over his interpretation of how much information the organization is legally obliged to disclose about its donors.
Citizens United President David Bossie said the legal challenge was filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court and would be on behalf of the group and an affiliate, the Citizens United Foundation.
Citizens United was the plaintiff in the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case that permitted unlimited independent corporate and union spending on elections.
At issue in the latest case is Schneiderman’s reading of a New York regulation adopted in 2006 that required donor disclosures for certain nonprofits. Bossie’s groups argue Schneiderman is overreaching on a law that applies to non-political groups.
The court filing will argue that Schneiderman’s interpretation infringes on the conservative group’s First Amendment rights, as well as violating New York State laws.
“New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s constitutional overreach needs to be addressed in a court of law,” Bossie said in a statement. “… Citizens United will fight for our rights set forth by the U.S. Constitution.”
Schneiderman spokesman Damien LaVera said in an email that, “after seeing the growth of 501(c)(4) political spending in New York, the Attorney General’s office adopted new regulations to require nonprofits that spend more than $10,000 on state and local elections to disclose who funds these efforts and how they spend the money.”
He added: “Attorney General Schneiderman will continue to defend laws that promote transparency and integrity by charitable institutions.”
We need more states' AG's to take up the fight for transparency and stronger campaign finance reform.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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