School Freedom Fund Oklahoma filed a motion on June 2 to dismiss the defamation lawsuit brought by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond in Osage County, Oklahoma.
David McIntosh, President of School Freedom Fund Oklahoma, said, “Drummond is trying to distract from his collapsing campaign by using his lawsuit to cover up the truth. Drummond is a soft on crime, Biden donor who, as Attorney General, gave hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma taxpayer dollars to finance a radical trans group that hosted drag queen story times for kids. Drummond’s lame lawsuit should be dismissed, and Oklahomans deserve a true conservative to be Governor.”
In its filing, School Freedom Fund Oklahoma asked the court to dismiss Drummond’s claims with prejudice and requested an award for costs, reasonable attorney fees and expenses. The organization also sought sanctions against Drummond under the Oklahoma Citizens Participation Act for what it described as an attempt to stifle speech. According to the group’s statement, Club for Growth Action’s affiliated School Freedom Fund Oklahoma has committed $4.3 million opposing Drummond’s gubernatorial campaign following his Supreme Court case related to school freedom.
The motion argues that the advertisement at issue constitutes core constitutionally protected speech about matters of public concern and states that its factual statements are true. The filing includes: “The advertisement is core constitutionally protected speech about matters of public concern. The advertisement’s factual statements are also true, which is an absolute defense to Plaintiff’s claims.”
Additional excerpts from the motion include: “SFFO moves the Court to immediately dismiss Plaintiff’s suit with prejudice, award fees and costs, and impose a sanction sufficient to deter Plaintiff and others from filing actions like this one that seek to target and chill protected political speech.” Another section states, “The funding statement is true. The advertisement states Plaintiff ‘gave hundreds of thousands of dollars’ to DCO. The documentary record — including the Petition’s own exhibits — establishes more. Plaintiff’s Office administered the certification and the grants.”
The organization maintains that its statements were based on fact regarding funding provided by Drummond’s office during his tenure as Attorney General: “Under Plaintiff’s leadership, the Attorney General’s Office funded DCO to the tune of nearly half a million dollars and DCO sponsored a chest binding program and a trans queen story time for Oklahoma children.” The group asserts these advertisements were intended “for the legitimate and constitutionally protected purpose of informing Oklahoma voters as part of the political process.”
