ACLU warns new House bill would give Trump ‘dangerous’ tool to stifle free speech and target political enemies
ACLU warns new House bill would give Trump ‘dangerous’ tool to stifle free speech and target political enemies
Civil rights groups worry the House is about to give the incoming president carte blanche to go after opponents
You're viewing a single thread.
If you're wondering how this works, under this bill:
- The Treasury Secretary can "determine" that any non-profit organization "supports terrorism."
- The Treasury Secretary does not have to provide any supporting evidence, or even any specific accusation.
- The non-profit will have 90 days to "appeal." Without having any idea what they're being accused of.
- The appeal can be declined without comment.
- The non-profit's 501(c)3 status is revoked. This essentially closes the doors of that organization.
To be clear I think this bill is horrendous, but...
The non-profit will have 90 days to “appeal.” Without having any idea what they’re being accused of.
This is not quite true. In Section 4 C (ii) it states that the secretary must provide "the name of the organization or organizations with respect to which the Secretary has determined such organization provided material support" and in Section 4 C (iii) it states that the secretary must provide "a description of such material support or resources to the extent consistent with national security and law enforcement interests."
That doesn't lessen the chilling effect this bill will have nor will it lessen the damage caused. But I feel accuracy in discussing this is important.
Full text of the bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9495/text
After this bill, Trump will declare antifa, BLM, and pro-palestine movements as terrorist organizations
Then all leftist legal support is dead
After this bill, Trump will declare antifa, BLM, and pro-palestine movements as terrorist organizations
Possibly. But per the bill they have to at least make a show of "proving" that the organizations aided designated foreign or domestic terrorist organizations, which is defined by the Secretary of State. Yes, of course they can just define an organization as such but it's not completely evidence-free. I'm a little unclear on the process of domestic vs foreign designations - Executive Order 13224 signed by bush gives both to the Secretary of State. Still that way?
"Then all leftist legal support is dead"
Because people can't get a tax deduction? I'd hope we're slightly better than that.
I very much appreciate this, especially the link to the actual text of the bill.
"the name of the organization or organizations with respect to which the Secretary has determined such organization provided material support"
"You've provided relief funds and services to [redacted, national security]."
"a description of such material support or resources to the extent consistent with national security and law enforcement interests."
"Can't tell you, national security."
Oh very true. But there is still congressional oversight and that means that some Dems will be privy to what [redacted] actually means.
Hey, just try find a few scraps of optimism...