A U.S. district judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from airing three advertisements that a lawsuit alleged violated restrictions on using taxpayer funds for “publicity and propaganda.”
New York Judge Jennifer L. Rochon ordered the removal of the ads from government websites, including social media, and said any planned dissemination of the ads through third parties must be canceled. The order is effective for 14 days.
The complaint was brought by a coalition, including nonprofit Common Cause, which said the ads “use public funds for partisan propaganda.”
Rochon ordered the removal of three ads, titled “$5,000 to Americans,” “Every Democrat Voted Against No Tax on Tips” and “Cost of Socialism.” The plaintiffs had originally sought the removal of at least 13 ads, but Rochon declined to remove the others, the Associated Press reported.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement: “This Biden-appointed activist judge issued a lawless order to stop the administration from sharing patriotic videos.”
Rochon said there was no excuse to delay removing the ads given the order was issued on a Friday, after a previous order over the weekend was not immediately observed.
“Everyone is here. Everyone can hear my order,” she said, according to the AP.
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