A federal judge in Massachusetts rules that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot proceed with a donation-vetting lawsuit targeting ActBlue. In a decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns blocks Paxton from “continuing to litigate” the case, concluding that ActBlue is likely to succeed on its claims that Paxton’s action infringes on protected rights.
Multiple outlets report that Stearns issued the ruling while addressing ActBlue’s request for relief, finding the company has a strong likelihood of success on its arguments. The court order prevents Paxton from advancing the litigation as it relates to the allegations around how ActBlue verifies or reviews small-dollar donations.
The ruling comes as ActBlue, described as a major small-dollar fundraising platform, challenges the state attorney general’s effort. Paxton’s office had argued for the lawsuit to move forward, but the judge’s order stops the case from proceeding at this stage. The decision is issued by a federal court in Massachusetts, not Texas.
