Federal Judge Blocks Paxton's Lawsuit Against ActBlue, Finding Retaliatory Motive
A federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction Thursday blocking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from pursuing his lawsuit against Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled the suit was filed in retaliation for ActBlue's fundraising on behalf of James Talarico, Paxton's opponent in the Texas Senate race, and found it likely infringed on ActBlue's First Amendment protections. The ruling marks a significant legal setback for Paxton and raises questions about the use of state attorney general powers against political rivals.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns granted ActBlue a preliminary injunction in a 15-page ruling, barring Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from continuing his April lawsuit against the Democratic fundraising platform. Stearns found that Paxton's own public statements and declarations revealed the suit was motivated by retaliation against ActBlue for raising funds for James Talarico, who is challenging Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat in November. The judge wrote that the lawsuit was 'far from protecting Texas consumers' and instead constituted an adverse action tied to Paxton's political candidacy. Paxton had alleged ActBlue enabled fraudulent and foreign donations by not requiring CVV codes and allowing contributions via gift cards and prepaid debit cards — concerns that have been raised by Republicans more broadly. ActBlue countersued in Boston, arguing the lawsuit was 'rife with false and inflammatory allegations' and was filed shortly after a $2 million fundraising day for Talarico. The ruling comes amid broader congressional scrutiny of ActBlue, including a House hearing where the platform's CEO invoked Fifth Amendment rights rather than answer questions about alleged foreign donations.
What's missing
The ruling is a preliminary injunction, not a final judgment; the underlying legal dispute over ActBlue's donor-vetting practices has not been resolved on the merits. It is unclear whether Paxton plans to appeal the injunction or pursue the case through other avenues.
How coverage differed
The Washington Examiner devoted considerably more space to Republican concerns about ActBlue's donor-vetting practices — including the CEO's Fifth Amendment invocations at a congressional hearing and internal memos about potential foreign donations — framing the story with more context favorable to Paxton's underlying allegations. UPI focused more narrowly on the legal ruling itself and the First Amendment basis for the injunction, presenting a more procedurally centered account.
What different sources said
- UPICenter
Judge blocks suit by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against ActBlue
- Washington ExaminerRight
Judge blocks Paxton from suing ActBlue over Talarico campaign concerns
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