Citizens United Files Suit Against New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

Washington, DC — Citizens United President David N. Bossie released the following statement in regards to a lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. You can read a summary of the case here.

“New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s constitutional overreach needs to be addressed in a court of law,” said David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United. “The First Amendment is under attack by the New York Attorney General and, as we did with the Federal Election Commission, Citizens United will fight for our rights set forth by the U.S. Constitution. With Don McGahn, who was the former FEC Chairman, as our lead attorney – I have full faith that we will prevail and right this injustice foisted upon Americans by the New York Attorney General.”

The lawsuit challenges Schneiderman’s demand that Citizens United and Citizens United Foundation file unredacted copies of their confidential lists of donors with the New York State Charities Bureau, as requirement for lawful solicitation of contributions for charitable purposes in New York. More specifically, the suit challenges Schneiderman’s interpretation of a state regulation, which he contends requires non-profit organizations soliciting contributions in New York to file a complete copy of their IRS Form 990 Schedule B, which lists the names, addresses and contribution amounts of top donors.