True Blue Progress

Judge rules Ken Paxton cannot move forward with ActBlue lawsuit

by Sophie Brams - 06/11/26 6:06 PM ET

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled Thursday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) cannot move forward with a donation-vetting lawsuit against progressive fundraising platform ActBlue.

District Judge Richard G. Stearns blocked Paxton from “continuing to litigate” the case, finding that ActBlue was likely to succeed in its claims that the action infringed on its First Amendment’s free-speech protections.

The court sided with ActBlue’s argument that the lawsuit amounted to “retaliation” for its role in fundraising for Democratic candidates, namely Paxton’s opponent in the Texas Senate race, state Rep. James Talarico (D).

“The lawsuit in Texas is undoubtedly an adverse action,” Stearns, an appointee of former President Clinton, wrote in a 15-page order. “And having previously found bad faith, the court agrees with ActBlue that the evidence in the record compels the conclusion that, far from protecting Texas consumers, the action was filed in retaliation for ActBlue’s fundraising on behalf of Talarico, Paxton’s current political rival for the Senate seat.”

Old photo of election envelopes misrepresented as trashed 2026 California ballots

Conservative influencers are claiming an image shows ballots for California's June 2, 2026 primary elections discarded in a Sonoma Valley dumpster, but this is false. In fact, the photo shows empty ballot return envelopes from a 2018 election -- not marked ballots -- that were being recycled in 2020 after being retained for 22 months in accordance with the state's laws.

"These ballots were found in a dumpster in Sonoma Valley, California. Nothing to see here," says text over the image posted June 8, 2026 on Facebook.

The post was shared by right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, whom AFP has repeatedly fact-checked for spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories, including about elections.

Michelle Obama -First Lady- Archived

Court filing asks judge to make Trump pay up for bringing 'meritless' lawsuit that 'he cannot' justify — and it wouldn't be the first time

In July 2025, with the Trump administration in damage control mode over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the Wall Street Journal was set to drop a bombshell. President Donald Trump threatened to sue the Journal for defamation before the article ran, followed through on the threat, and has alleged ever since that a so-called "Birthday Book" letter marking his former friend's 50th birthday in 2003 is a "fake thing."

Trump's case was dealt a "stunning blow," legally speaking, just months after he filed what seemed to be an urgent complaint against Rupert Murdoch's newspaper and reporters, as the estate of the late sexual predator handed Congress a letter that matched the one the Journal reported on. And now, the defendants not only seek dismissal, but also ask U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles, a Barack Obama appointee, to force Trump to pay up for filing a "meritless" case.

"This lawsuit is 'without merit' under Florida's anti-SLAPP law," said the motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation like Trump's case, the filing went on, must receive a "well warranted" and "mandatory award of the attorneys' fees and costs" for forcing the Journal to defend itself against "meritless litigation."