New Jersey: Pro-life Pregnancy Centers File Lawsuit to Block “Oppressive, Unjustified” Subpoena Issued by Democratic AG
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – An umbrella group of pro-life pregnancy centers has filed suit against New Jersey to block what it describes as a politically motivated “oppressive, unjustified” subpoena issued by the state’s Democratic Attorney General to produce detailed information on their business practices, the Washington Times reports. First Choice Women’s Resource Centers filed the suit in the District Court in response to a subpoena received from New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
In 2022, New Jersey’s Democratic-run Division of Consumer Affairs issued an alert about “crisis pregnancy centers,” warning that they may provide “false or misleading information about abortion — including the physical and mental health effects of abortion — to deter people from choosing abortion,” the Times notes.
Platkin’s subpoena to First Choice arises out of consumer fraud investigation based on the Consumer Affairs alert. “Under longstanding New Jersey law, nonprofits operating in our state cannot engage in deception about the work they do,” a spokesperson for Platkin said in a statement responding to the court filing. “New Jersey law provides the Attorney General clear authority to investigate non-profits that may be violating those requirements. By filing this lawsuit, First Choice is refusing to even answer questions about its candor and its operations,” the spokesperson said.
Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom conservative legal activism group, First Choice claims the subpoena was a hostile act targeting a Christian ministry solely because of its religious views, the Times reports.
“Defendant [AG Platkin] is engaged in an intrusive, oppressive, unnecessary, unjustified, and irrelevant investigation of First Choice’s organizational structure; personal information of leadership, volunteers, and personnel; associations; internal policies; irrelevant lawful activities; tax-exempt status; and other lawful aspects of First Choice’s operations and relationships,” the plaintiff’s court filing asserts.
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