4,670
edits
Changes
Following the storming of the capitol, RLDF's chairman Steve Marshall claimed he was "unaware of unauthorized decisions made by RLDF staff with regard to this week’s rally"<ref>Brian Lyman, [https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2021/01/08/steve-marshall-dark-money-groups-involvement-pro-trump-rally-unauthorized/6594042002/ "Steve Marshall: Dark money group's involvement in pro-Trump rally was unauthorized"], ''Montgomery Advisor'', January 8, 2021, accessed January 13, 2021.</ref> and Ohio AG David Yost called the robocall an "unauthorized act by a rogue staffer".<ref>David Yost, [https://twitter.com/Yost4Ohio/status/1347996191125106696 "1347996191125106696"], ''Twitter'', January 9, 2021, accessed January 13, 2021.</ref> However, the former chair of the [[Republican Attorneys General Association]] spoke at the rally and several Republican attorneys general took multiple legal actions in November and December to challenge the election results, consistent with the language used in the robocalls.<ref>David Armiak and Alex Kotch, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/01/11/republican-ags-forever-tied-to-violent-pro-trump-insurrection/ "Republican AGs Forever Tied to Violent Pro-Trump Insurrection"], ''Exposed by CMD'', January 11, 2021, accessed January 13, 2021.</ref>
===CMD Lawsuit Against Ohio Attorney General for Refusal to Release Records of Communication with RAGA and RLDF===
In December 2020, the [[Center for Media and Democracy]] (CMD) sued "Ohio Attorney General David Yost for his office’s refusal to hand over records concerning Yost’s work with two powerful and partisan influence groups, the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), and its sister organization, the [[Rule of Law Defense Fund]] (RLDF), in violation of the Ohio Public Records Act."<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/12/01/watchdog-group-files-suit-against-ohio-ag-dave-yost-withholding-records-dealings-with-powerful-influence-groups/ "Watchdog Group Files Suit Against Ohio AG Dave Yost for Withholding Records of Dealings with Powerful Influence Groups"], press release, December 1, 2020, accessed January 11, 2021.</ref>
===Watchdog Group Sues Utah AG for Withholding RLDF Documents===
The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) filed suit in District Court on July 17, 2017 against the Utah Office of Attorney General for its refusal to turn over emails and other documents concerning Attorney General Sean Reyes’ dealings with the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and its partner organization, the Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF) in violation of Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act.<ref name="reyes">ExposedbyCMD Editors, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2017/07/18/watchdog-group-sues-utah-ag-withholding-raga-documents/ Watchdog Group Sues Utah AG for Withholding RAGA Documents], ''ExposedbyCMD'', July 18, 2017.</ref>
When CMD filed an open records request for AG Reyes’ correspondence with RAGA and RLDF in March 2017, it received just 19 documents, which failed to include at least 13 interactions that CMD already knew about. On administrative appeal, the Office of Attorney General took the position that all its interactions with RAGA and RLDF “involve unofficial political/campaign activities” and are therefore not public business.<ref name="reyes"/>
However, RLDF has coordinated legal briefs and official letters for Reyes, including one letter denouncing climate fraud investigations, and Reyes and at least two of his staff have attended at least six RAGA national meetings.<ref name="reyes"/>
==Core Financials==