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The district court ruled that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) v. American Action Network (AAN) can proceed, issuing the first ever ruling on a motion to dismiss on a citizen suit brought under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). Read the decision below.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sued American Action Network (AAN) following the Federal Election Commission’s failure to conform with the Court’s declaration in a prior lawsuit. Despite two court orders demanding that the FEC take action action against AAN for its violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, the FEC deadlocked twice when voting to decide if clearly political ads aired by AAN were meant to influence an election.

CREW is suing AAN in order to obtain the information — including the names of AAN’s donors — that AAN was legally required to, but did not disclose, and to uphold the enforcement of essential laws restricting secret political spending.

Lawsuit Documents

  • Complaint
    April 23, 2018
    Read here
  • AAN's Motion to Stay
    June 1, 2018
    Read here
  • Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Stay
    June 22, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit 1 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion
    Exhibit 1 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Stay - June 22, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit 2 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion
    Exhibit 2 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Stay - June 22, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit 3 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion
    Exhibit 3 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Stay - June 22, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit 4 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion
    Exhibit 4 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Stay - June 22, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit 5 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion
    Exhibit 5 - Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Stay - June 22, 2018
    Read here
  • AAN's Reply in Further Support of its Motion
    AAN's Reply in Further Support of its Motion to Stay - July 7, 2018
    Read here
  • CREW's Motion for Leave to File Surreply
    CREW's Motion for Leave to File Surreply in Opposition to Motion to Stay - July 12, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit #1 - CREW's Motion for Leave
    July 12, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit #2 - CREW's Motion for Leave
    July 12, 2018
    Read here
  • AAN's Opposition to CREW's Motion for Leave
    July 13, 2018
    Read here
  • Order
    July 27, 2018
    Read here
  • Notice of Dismissal of AAN's Appeal
    September 19, 2018
    Read here
  • Exhibit A - Notice of Dismissal of AAN's Appeal
    September 19, 2018
    Read here
  • AAN's Motion to Dismiss & Exhibits
    November 2, 2018
    Read here
  • CREW's Opposition to AAN's Motion to Dismiss
    December 5, 2018
    Read here
  • AAN's Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss
    December 22, 2018
    Read here
  • Transcript from Hearing
    August 6, 2019
    Read here
  • Memorandum Opinion
    September 30, 2019
    Read here
  • AAN's Motion for Interlocutory Appeal
    October 18, 2019
    Read here
  • AAN's Answer
    October 28, 2019
    Read here
  • CREW's Opposition to AAN's Motion
    CREW's Opposition to AAN's Motion for Interlocutory Appeal - November 1, 2019
    Read here
  • AAN's Reply in Support of Interlocutory Appea
    November 8, 2019
    Read here
  • Order Denying Interlocutory Appeal
    November 21, 2019
    Read here
  • Notice of Constitutional Challenge
    July 14, 2020
    Read here
  • CREW's Response to AAN's Notice
    CREW's Response to AAN's Notice of Constitutional Challenge - July 21, 2020
    Read here
  • U.S. Acknowledgement of Constitutional Question
    September 11, 2020
    Read here
  • Motion for Reconsideration for Dismissal
    May 26, 2021
    Read here
  • CREW Opposition to Motion for Reconsideration
    June 23, 2021
    Read here
  • CREW Reply to CREW Opposition
    June 30, 2021
    Read here
  • Notice of Joint Stipulation of Facts
    July 8, 2021
    Read here
  • Memorandum Opinion
    March 2, 2022
    Read here
  • Notice of Appeal
    March 30, 2022
    Read here
  • CREW Unopposed Motion to Hold Case
    April 26, 2022
    Read here
  • Clerk's Order Holding in Abeyance
    April 27, 2022
    Read here
  • Public Brief for Plaintiff-Appellant
    March 29, 2023
    Read here
  • Public Reply Brief for Plaintiff-Appellant
    July 28, 2023
    Read here

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