JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a motion to block Media Matters from shutting down a Missouri court after the nonprofit filed a motion in D.C. court to halt his investigation into its fraudulent business practices. General Bailey filed suit against Media Matters in March to force the nonprofit to turn over documents related to his investigation, and that litigation is currently ongoing in state court.
“Media Matters is attempting to shut down Missouri courts by filing a motion in a D.C. court to halt our investigation and lawsuit into their fraudulent practices,” said Attorney General Bailey. “D.C. courts have no control over Missouri courts. I have filed a motion to keep this suit in Missouri, where it belongs. I will not allow Media Matters to run to a D.C. court to evade Missouri law.”
Media Matters came under fire after allegations surfaced that it deceitfully manipulated X’s (formerly Twitter) algorithm to place advertisers’ content next to contrived controversial posts, causing X to suffer astronomical financial losses when affected advertisers pulled their money from the site. Media Matters has been outspoken in its attempts to defame X for its refusal to censor disfavored viewpoints.
General Bailey launched his investigation in November 2023 after evidence came to light that Media Matters solicited donations from Missourians under false pretenses to target X in direct violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
In his motion of opposition, General Bailey wrote, “The Supreme Court has not minced words, saying that the very thing Media Matters tries here imposes ‘evils’ on federal courts. Huffman v. Pursue, Ltd., 420 U.S. 592, 608 (1975). It is thus no wonder that other federal courts regularly reject attempts by parties like Media Matters to challenge state subpoenas in federal court when a state proceeding is already ongoing. E.g., Backpage.com, LLC v. Hawley, No. 4:17-CV-1951, 2017 WL 5726868 (E.D. Mo. Nov. 28, 2017) (citing Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971)). And rightly so. As the Supreme Court has long made clear, including recently, federal courts lack equity jurisdiction to issue orders that have the effect of shutting down existing state court proceedings. Media Matters can raise every one of its arguments in Missouri state court.”
General Bailey’s motion in opposition can be viewed here: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/56-Bailey-memorandum-in-opposition-to-TRO-PI.pdf