Alabama’s Republican congressmen are looking for answers to a recent subpoena of The Eagle Forum of Alabama, Yellowhammer News reported. The Department of Justice is seeking information related to their promotion of the Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion And Protection Act. The bill bans gender-altering surgeries from being performed on minors.
The bill was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey in April, and a lawsuit was filed in federal court three days later. A federal judge blocked part of the law that made it a felony to prescribe gender-affirming puberty blockers and hormones to transgender minors. The judge left in place a part of the law that banned gender-affirming surgeries for transgender minors. He also left a provision that requires counselors and other school officials to tell parents if a minor discloses that they think they are transgender.
The Eagle Forum has filed a motion to quash the subpoena. Their report states, “The DOJ subpoena is broad, intrusive, and meant to harass. It seeks 5 ½ years of information, including: all private communications with legislators or anyone else regarding VCAP; every note, meeting-minutes, letter, policy goals and strategy effort, speech, presentation materials, research, polling; drafts of the bill or its amendments (which can be found on the legislative website); and documents pertaining to publicly-posted social media and webpages, etc.”
Leaders are questioning the DOJ’s motivation for the subpoena because the Eagle Forum is not named in the lawsuit.
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer sent a letter to the DOJ and Attorney General Merrick Garland. Reps. Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, and Mike Rogers all signed the letter.
Palmer issued a press release, stating, “Eagle Forum of Alabama is an outstanding organization that represents the values of thousands of Alabamians. To have their first amendment rights infringed upon by the Department of Justice is disrespectful to our Constitution. Constitutional protections should not be dictated by the political views of individuals in the White House or their appointees.
“Attorney General Merrick Garland owes an explanation for the motives behind this aggressive action against an organization simply petitioning the government on an issue important to them.”
Palmer stated on Facebook, “The DOJ is out of control and must answer for their unconstitutional actions. My Alabama Republican colleagues and I are supporting Eagle Forum and their right to petition the government.”
Rep. Carl called the move an ‘attack.’
“The Department of Justice’s decision to target the Eagle Forum of Alabama is nothing more than a partisan attack against a conservative organization simply because of their political views,” stated Carl. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort demanding answers from Attorney General Merrick Garland as to why the DOJ is attacking private citizens for exercising their First Amendment rights.”
Rep. Aderholt called the subpoena an attempt to intimidate Americans.
“As Americans, we are protected by the First Amendment with the right to petition the government,” Aderholt stated. “This action by the U.S. government is a blatant attempt to intimidate citizens from participating in the legislative process. It is vitally important that we hear from the Department of Justice about why they took this action and get an explanation for this violation.”
The letter states, “Constitutional protections cannot be eroded based on who occupies the White House or the political views of their appointees.”
