Free Speech For People Statement on Illinois State Officers Electoral Board Decision Posted on January 30, 2024 (January 30, 2024) Challenging Corruption CHICAGO — The Illinois State Officers Electoral Board rejected today a challenge, under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, to Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on the state’s presidential primary and general election ballot, which a diverse group of Illinois voters initiated on January 4, 2024. The challengers will immediately appeal and expect the issuesRead More
Statement by Free Speech For People and Lichten & Liss-Riordan on Single Justice Ruling of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Posted on January 29, 2024 (January 29, 2024) Challenging Corruption On January 29, 2024, Associate Justice Frank M. Gaziano of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, sitting as a single justice, denied an emergency petition by individual Massachusetts voters challenging Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on the state’s presidential primary and general election ballot. The challengers are a mix of Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters andRead More
Republican judge finds that Trump engaged in insurrection and is disqualified under Section 3 of the Fourteenth amendment; ultimate decision must come from higher court Posted on January 28, 2024 (January 28, 2024) Challenging Corruption Former Illinois Judge Clark Erickson, acting as hearing officer on voters’ challenge to Trump’s eligibility, issues recommendation to the Illinois State Officers Electoral Board, which will vote on it on Tuesday. Judge finds that the electoral board does not have the authority to decide the challenge on the merits, but recommends that, if the boardRead More
Voters Challenging Trump’s Eligibility in Massachusetts Ask Supreme Judicial Court to Declare Trump Ineligible Posted on January 23, 2024 (January 23, 2024) Challenging Corruption In an emergency appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Plaintiffs ask the court to either uphold the US Constitution by barring Trump from the ballot or rule on the question of jurisdiction for the State Ballot Law Commission to proceed on merits. BOSTON, MA (January 23, 2024) – Free Speech For People (FSFP), alongRead More
Over $67 Million Spent To Influence Elections, New OpenSecrets Report Highlights the Role of Foreign-Influenced Corporations’ Spending in Washington State Elections Posted on January 23, 2024 (January 24, 2024) Challenging Foreign Influence State and National Advocates Urge the Washington Legislature to Take Action to Pass HB 1885 and Defend Democracy SEATTLE, WA (January 23, 2024) – Open Secrets, a national research and government transparency group, released a new case study today of state-level political expenditures by foreign-influenced corporations. Of the six states detailed in the report, Washington StateRead More
Voters Challenging Trump’s Eligibility Urge Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission to Grant Motion for Summary Decision in 14.3 Case Posted on January 17, 2024 (January 17, 2024) Challenging Corruption Free Speech For People, along with nationally recognized litigator Shannon Liss-Riordan of the Massachusetts-based civil rights firm Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., filed a motion today with the Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission, arguing that the Commission should rely on the central factual and legal findings at the heart of the voters-challengers’ case to bar Donald TrumpRead More
Free Speech For People Files Amicus Brief to Protect Maine’s Ban on Foreign Government Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on January 12, 2024 (January 12, 2024) Challenging Foreign Influence Free Speech For People, joined by Peter J. Brann of the Maine law firm Brann & Isaacson, filed an amicus brief today in defense of Maine’s new law prohibiting foreign government influence in state and local elections. In November 2023, Maine voters passed by a resounding margin (86%) a ballot measure prohibiting foreign government-influenced corporationsRead More
Free Speech For People’s Statement Regarding Oregon Supreme Court’s Order Posted on January 12, 2024 (January 12, 2024) Challenging Corruption On January 12, the Oregon Supreme Court issued a temporary ruling in State ex rel Nelson v. Griffin-Valade, a challenge to Donald Trump’s candidacy under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court said: After [plaintiffs] filed their petition, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson, et al.Read More
Free Speech For People Files Amicus Brief in Maine Case to Bar Trump from the Ballot Posted on January 10, 2024 (January 10, 2024) Challenging Corruption Free Speech For People filed an amicus brief today before the Maine Superior Court in Trump v. Bellows, an appeal filed by Donald Trump after Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows barred his name from appearing on the state’s March 5th presidential primary ballots under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The brief addresses Trump’sRead More
New York State Senate Cracks Down on Multinational Corporations Interfering in State Elections, Passes Democracy Preservation Act Posted on January 10, 2024 Challenging Foreign Influence If passed in the Assembly and signed into law, New York would be the second state to ban multinational corporate money in elections. ALBANY, NY (January 9, 2024) – On January 8th, the New York State Senate passed, with bipartisan support, the Democracy Preservation Act (S371), a bill designed to end the influence of foreignRead More