Civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, are pressing for over $550,000 in legal fees from Republican allies of Donald Trump, Representatives Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene. This demand follows the dismissal of a lawsuit they filed, which accused these groups of conspiring to cancel political events in California.
On Wednesday, the civil rights groups petitioned a federal judge in Los Angeles to recognize them as prevailing parties in the case, asserting that Gaetz and Greene’s lawsuit was baseless and should never have been initiated. The legal teams for Gaetz and Greene have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The controversy began when Gaetz and Greene sued nine nonprofit organizations last year, claiming they pressured the cities of Anaheim and Riverside to cancel a political rally in 2021. Their complaint alleged various civil rights violations, naming the California cities as defendants alongside the nonprofits.
U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera dismissed the lawsuit in two separate rulings earlier this year, describing the claims against the nonprofits as “unprecedented.” He emphasized that the lawsuit should alarm civic members across all political affiliations.
In a statement released Thursday, the California branch of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) labeled Gaetz and Greene’s legal action as “frivolous” and is seeking nearly $155,000 in fees.
The NAACP has requested approximately $185,000 to cover 214 hours of legal work performed by its law firm, Latham & Watkins. Notably, Latham has provided its services at discounted rates for the NAACP. The firm argued that Gaetz and Greene relied on vague allegations in their attempt to link the NAACP to the cancellation of events in Riverside and Anaheim.
The League of Women Voters and other involved parties have not yet commented on this development.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between civil rights organizations and certain political figures. As these groups seek compensation for what they view as an unjustified lawsuit, they reinforce their commitment to protecting civic engagement and ensuring that all voices are heard in the political arena.
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