A legal group in Washington, D.C. recently threatened legal action against NBC News over an article made about conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and evangelical churches regarding their civic activism. The Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) demanded that the left-leaning news outlet retract the story in question.
Republican State Delegate and Precinct Chair Sarah Fields reported about the legal brief on X, writing, “Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) has issued a formal demand for retraction to NBC News regarding their recent inflammatory article about Charlie Kirk and targeting evangelical churches’ legitimate voter engagement activities.”
The news release from CDF continued, “Jesse Binnall of Binnall Law, representing Citizens Defending Freedom on the matter, provided in the demand letter, “There is no prohibition–nor could there be under the First Amendment- against any political candidate or organization speaking to a church, so long as competing candidates or organizations have the same opportunity to speak.””
The group continued in the news release, “CDF, as a member of the Remnant Alliance, educates the general public on religious liberty and constitutional matters, and participates in church-based voter engagement activities. In the letter, CDF emphasized that the Internal Revenue Service explicitly permits churches to conduct nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, directly contradicting NBC’s recent reporting.”
Speaking about Kirk’s activism, the letter statement read, “CDF’s demand letter specifically addressed Turning Point Action’s “Super Chase” events, arguing these activities qualify as protected voter mobilization efforts under existing IRS guidance, pointing out that NBC’s selective scrutiny fails to apply similar scrutiny to comparable activities conducted by progressive organizations.”
Furthermore, the legal group cautioned the network that it could be potentially in violation of the law. “Moreover, CDF warned that NBC’s coverage could potentially violate federal laws prohibiting voter intimidation,” the legal organization claimed. “In its defense of religious institutions’ civic engagement, CDF emphasized that churches maintain clear constitutional protections to conduct a wide range of activities.”
Outlining the protected activities in which their clients are permitted to engage in under the law, the CDF continued, “These protected activities include organizing voter registration drives, encouraging civic participation, hosting non-partisan voter education forums, distributing voter guides and broadly engaging their congregants in the democratic process, much of which CDF participates in as a member of the
Remnant Alliance.”
Moreover, the CDF highlighted the importance religious organizations have played throughout America’s history. “As pointed out by Binnall, “Religious organizations have played a vital role in American civic life since our nation’s founding,”…. “(a]ttempts to silence their voices through intimidation tactics not only violate constitutional principles but undermine our democratic traditions.”
Reacting to the legal measure on X, one person wrote, “Apathetic Christians need to pay attention! We are in the fight of our lives. Freedom is on the line. Thanks for sharing, Sarah. Keep up the great work!” Others cheered on the legal move in defense of the evangelical community. “Good!” one person wrote in the comments section. “Thank you Sarah for covering this!” another person posted.
Watch Trump address ending birthright citizenship with NBC’s Kristin Welker:
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