Ready for Ron Sues Federal Election Commission Collecting & Sharing Draft Petition Signers is Constitutionally Protected Free Speech
Washington, DC
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October 27, 2022 12:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Ready for Ron (RFR), the only credible organization working to draft Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The action, brought in the U.S. District Court for D.C., follows the FEC issuing an Advisory Opinion to prevent Ready for Ron from sharing with Governor DeSantis the names of those who signed a petition encouraging him to challenge Joe Biden.
The lawsuit states in part, “…RFR wishes to provide its signed petition, including names and contact information provided by its signatories, to Governor DeSantis—a traditional form of political expression and association. The Commission has issued an advisory opinion concluding the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”) prohibits RFR from doing so…”
Prominent Republican campaign finance attorney Dan Backer recently argued before the FEC and submitted three detailed Public Comments to the FEC supporting Ready for Ron’s request, to share the list of supporters with DeSantis both before and during a potential candidacy – as an act of Constitutionally protected political speech. The arguments cited binding D.C. Circuit Court precedent, legislative history, and the FEC’s own administrative precedents.
“The FEC would stop Ready For Ron from sharing a petition – the quintessential form of free speech – unless we also charged for it,” argued Backer. “Act Blue does the same thing we propose – sharing support names and contact information on a vastly larger scale – tens of millions of individuals – while funneling a billion and a half dollars a cycle”.
“The FEC is fine with Act Blue doing this to support Biden, as long as money is involved, but when the speech is free or bad for Biden, suddenly it must be suppressed,” Backer continued.
The lawsuit further states, “…RFR’s fundamental First Amendment rights to engage in political speech and expressive political association have been violated by the FEC’s response to RFR’s advisory opinion request and the reasonable prospect of prosecution if RFR provides its signed petition to Governor DeSantis…”
“We are disappointed some on the FEC are again standing in the way of political speech and freedom of association. Millions of Americans want Ron DeSantis to run. Signing their names to Ready for Ron’s draft petition is the ultimate act of political free speech and association, and there is simply no basis for saying they cannot give those names to the Governor if – and when – he heeds their call and runs.
It is disappointing that this litigation is necessary, but we are eager to protect our Free Speech and encourage DeSantis to seek the Presidency. We are confident we will prevail,” Backer continued. “We have before in taking on the FEC, and surely will again.”
Since its launch in late May, Ready for Ron has garnered nearly 100,000 petition signers, generated significant media attention, and run hundreds of ads to help convince Ron DeSantis to run for President. Ready for Ron has emerged as the only credible independent organization in support of Ron DeSantis. Americans are encouraged to sign the petition at http://www.ReadyForRon.com to draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024.
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The lawsuit and exhibits may be found at https://www.readyforron.com/lawsuit/
For more information or to schedule an interview with ‘Ready for Ron’ legal counsel Dan Backer or Lilian Rodríguez-Baz, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com.
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Ready for Ron
Dan Rene
+1 202-329-8357
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