Anti-abortion group challenges legality of Ohio law barring false statements about candidates
6/21/2014CINCINNATI — A national anti-abortion group wants a federal court to block an Ohio law barring people from making false statements about candidates seeking elective office.
The Susan B. Anthony List filed the motion Friday in Cincinnati, saying the law violates free speech rights. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the group could challenge the law.
The group was accused of violating the law during the 2010 election when it tried to post billboards accusing an Ohio congressman of supporting taxpayer-funded abortion because he backed the health care law. The congressman claimed the ads misrepresented true facts and violated the false speech law, but later withdrew his complaint against the group.
A federal judge and appeals court had earlier ruled the group couldn’t sue because the case was withdrawn.