'Non-answers': Judge snaps at attorney defending DeSantis' threats to broadcasters
2 months ago

'Non-answers': Judge snaps at attorney defending DeSantis' threats to broadcasters

Raw Story  

A federal judge fired back during a hearing Thursday morning at an attorney defending the DeSantis administration in the legal dispute over its threats to broadcasters airing an ad in support of the abortion-rights amendment. Tallahassee U.S. District Judge Mark Walker asked Brian Barnes point-blank whether the ad at issue stated that Florida’s six-week ban lacks an exception to protect the life of the mother. Walker said he would rule Thursday afternoon on Floridians Protecting Freedom’s request for a temporary restraining order stopping the Florida Department of Health from coercing, threatening, or intimidating the organization or broadcasters for airing speech in favor of the amendment. Barnes also argued that Floridians Protecting Freedom lacked standing to sue because it couldn’t prove injury, since it continued playing the ad elsewhere and hadn’t stopped its campaign in support of the amendment. In September, the agency published a webpage claiming Amendment 4 “threatens women’s safety.” The Florida Supreme Court and a state trial court in Tallahassee allowed the webpage to stay live.

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History of this topic

Judge continues to block Florida from threatening TV stations over abortion ads
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Judge continues to block Florida from threatening TV stations over abortion ads

NPR  

Judge continues to block Florida from threatening TV stations over abortion ads toggle caption John Raoux/AP TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A federal judge who recently chastised Florida officials for "trampling" on free speech rights continued to block the head of the state's health department from taking any more steps to threaten TV stations that air commercials for an abortion rights measure …

Judge continues to block Florida officials from threatening TV stations over abortion ads
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Judge continues to block Florida officials from threatening TV stations over abortion ads

LA Times  

Ron DeSantis holds up legislation in 2022 that banned most abortions in the state after 15 weeks of gestation. A federal judge on Tuesday continued to block the head of Florida’s health department from taking any more steps to threaten TV stations that air commercials for an abortion rights measure on next week’s ballot. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker extended …

DeSantis administration threatens charges stemming from TV ad supporting abortion initiative
1 month, 3 weeks ago

DeSantis administration threatens charges stemming from TV ad supporting abortion initiative

Politico  

Walker held Tuesday’s hearing to discuss a request made by the Amendment 4 campaign for a preliminary injunction that would stop the state Department of Health from bringing criminal charges after the Nov. 5 election against TV stations that ran the ad. He said the ad was similar to a hypothetical scenario where an Walker told Barnes it was a …

'Faulty premise': CBS lawyers clap back at Trump's legal threat
2 months ago

'Faulty premise': CBS lawyers clap back at Trump's legal threat

Raw Story  

Attorneys for CBS News are pushing back on former President Donald Trump's legal threats to the network over Vice President Kamala Harris' interview, CNN reported Wednesday. The letter, delivered to Trump's counsel, noted that CBS has a First Amendment right to do what it wants with Harris' interview, and that Trump's legal team hasn't provided any basis to sue over …

Door-knocking and restraining orders: Inside Ron DeSantis’s war on abortion rights
2 months ago

Door-knocking and restraining orders: Inside Ron DeSantis’s war on abortion rights

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “To keep it simple for the State of …

There’s New Evidence Against Ron DeSantis in Abortion Censorship Case
54 years, 11 months ago

There’s New Evidence Against Ron DeSantis in Abortion Censorship Case

Slate  

On Oct. 3, TV stations across Florida received letters from the state’s Department of Health threatening prosecution if they continued airing an When their lawyers arrived at a Tallahassee courthouse for a hearing last Thursday, they were approached by Wilson’s personal attorney. Wilson’s declaration points the finger at three specific officials: Ryan Newman, general counsel for the executive office of …

Column: Inside the abortion case that prompted a federal judge to call Florida officials ‘stupid’
2 months ago

Column: Inside the abortion case that prompted a federal judge to call Florida officials ‘stupid’

LA Times  

Ron DeSantis speaks out against Amendment 4, which would protect access to abortion, during a news conference with Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4 on Monday in Coral Gables, Fla. “To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid.” This warning from federal Judge Mark Walker of Tallahassee, Fla., to Gov. Florida’s Amendment 4 would place …

DeSantis using state money, time and his power to fight abortion rights measure
2 months ago

DeSantis using state money, time and his power to fight abortion rights measure

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. DeSantis' event Monday, which was capped with a prayer …

Florida Official Says Ron DeSantis Behind Threats Over Pro-Choice Ads
2 months ago

Florida Official Says Ron DeSantis Behind Threats Over Pro-Choice Ads

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The general counsel for Florida’s Department of Health, John Wilson, resigned earlier this month — and new court records show it was because he was uncomfortable sending threats on behalf of Gov. “These current stories all look past the core issue — the ads are unequivocally false and put the lives and health of pregnant women at …

Federal Judge Shoots Down Ron DeSantis’ War Against Free Speech
2 months ago

Federal Judge Shoots Down Ron DeSantis’ War Against Free Speech

Slate  

Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is using every conceivable tool at his disposal to maintain his state’s six-week abortion ban. Dahlia Lithwick: Last time we checked in on Amendment 4, Ron DeSantis’ Department of Health was threatening criminal penalties for TV stations that aired a factually true pro-choice ad, claiming it was false and dangerous. Thankfully, the lawsuit got assigned to …

'It's the First Amendment, stupid': Federal court smacks down Ron DeSantis
2 months ago

'It's the First Amendment, stupid': Federal court smacks down Ron DeSantis

Raw Story  

A federal court issued an order blocking Florida state officials and in particular Gov. Ron DeSantis' health secretary Joseph Ladapo, from threatening TV stations over ads in support of Amendment 4, the constitutional ballot referendum that seeks to repeal Florida's near-total abortion ban, reported constitutional attorney Adam Steinbaugh. DeSantis' administration sent letters to TV stations threatening to prosecute their employees …

Ron DeSantis administration faces lawsuit over ‘coercive threats’ to derail Florida’s abortion rights campaign
2 months, 1 week ago

Ron DeSantis administration faces lawsuit over ‘coercive threats’ to derail Florida’s abortion rights campaign

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An …

FCC official accuses Ron DeSantis of "dangerous" effort to censor pro-choice campaigners in Florida
2 months, 2 weeks ago

FCC official accuses Ron DeSantis of "dangerous" effort to censor pro-choice campaigners in Florida

Salon  

Ron DeSantis is threatening to criminally prosecute Florida television stations that have run an pro-choice ad, The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday. On Oct. 3, Florida’s Department of Health sent a letter to at least one local television station threatening criminal charges for airing the ad, journalist Jason Garcia first reported. The letter says the ad is “dangerous” and may …

'Comically unconstitutional': Analyst shreds Ron DeSantis' threat to criminalize speech
2 months, 2 weeks ago

'Comically unconstitutional': Analyst shreds Ron DeSantis' threat to criminalize speech

Raw Story  

Ron DeSantis' latest bid to try to suppress the ballot referendum campaign to restore abortion rights in his state is "comically unconstitutional," a legal reporter wrote for Slate. But DeSantis has now escalated dramatically, with his Department of Health threatening in a letter to prosecute TV stations that air ads in favor of the amendment for "sanitary nuisance" — a …

Ron DeSantis’ Administration Is Threatening to Prosecute the Media for Airing Pro-Choice Ads
54 years, 11 months ago

Ron DeSantis’ Administration Is Threatening to Prosecute the Media for Airing Pro-Choice Ads

Slate  

Ron DeSantis’ administration is threatening TV stations that air ads in support of an abortion rights ballot initiative with criminal penalties, including jail time. The Florida Department of Health claimed that airing the “Caroline” ad may violate the state’s ban on a “nuisance injurious to health,” a second-degree misdemeanor. Related From Slate The Giant Threat Lurking Behind Florida’s November Abortion …

DeSantis threatens local TV stations for airing abortion rights campaign ads
2 months, 2 weeks ago

DeSantis threatens local TV stations for airing abortion rights campaign ads

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Amendment 4 is gonna protect women like me.” …

DeSantis defends state webpage critical of abortion-rights amendment
3 months, 1 week ago

DeSantis defends state webpage critical of abortion-rights amendment

Raw Story  

Ron DeSantis said he does not know whose idea it was for a state agency to publish a webpage attacking Amendment 4, the proposed abortion-right amendment on the November ballot, but he also insists the page is entirely accurate. “It’s not an anti-Amendment 4,” DeSantis declared during a news conference Tuesday of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s page. …

Ron DeSantis Sued By Florida Prosecutor He Removed Over Abortion, Transgender Rights
2 years, 4 months ago

Ron DeSantis Sued By Florida Prosecutor He Removed Over Abortion, Transgender Rights

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An elected Florida prosecutor who was removed from office by Gov. DeSantis said he suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren this month for signing a national pledge to not prosecute women and doctors for violating state abortion laws or families seeking treatments for transgender minors. In his executive order, DeSantis cited Warren’s policy …

DeSantis sued by Florida prosecutor he removed over abortion
2 years, 4 months ago

DeSantis sued by Florida prosecutor he removed over abortion

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An elected Florida prosecutor who was removed from office by Gov. DeSantis said he suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren this month for signing a national pledge to not prosecute women and doctors for violating state abortion laws or families seeking treatments for transgender minors. Now seeking re-election in November and positioning himself as a potential …

Judge again refuses to block use of law in NC AG probe
2 years, 4 months ago

Judge again refuses to block use of law in NC AG probe

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal judge on Monday again refused to block a North Carolina district attorney from pursuing charges using a specific state law about a 2020 television commercial run by state Attorney General Josh Stein’s campaign. But U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles on Monday declined to temporarily prevent that law from being enforced while the campaign committee and …

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