Judge Blocks Texas AG’s Probe Into Media Matters

Rolling Stone reports:

A judge on Friday moved to halt an investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) into the liberal watchdog journalism organization Media Matters, issuing a preliminary injunction in the case.

Calling Media Matters a “radical left-wing” and “anti-free speech organization,” Paxton claimed to be investigating “potential fraudulent activity” by the group under Texas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act, in response to its reporting about X.

Media Matters President and CEO Angelo Carusone said in a statement on Friday evening that X owner Elon Musk had “encouraged Republican state attorneys general to use their power to harass their critics and stifle reporting about X,” adding: “Ken Paxton was one of those AGs that took up the call and he was defeated. Today’s decision is a victory for free speech.”

Read the full article. A similar lawsuit filed by Missouri AG Andrew Bailey remains pending.

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request for internal docs in response to the watchdog group’s reporting on X

More: https://t.co/8fbvI2MDAHhttps://t.co/8fbvI2MDAH

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) April 13, 2024

Media Matters has won its lawsuit against Texas AG Ken Paxton.

Paxton (at Elon Musk’s encouragement) launched an investigation into Media Matters.

We sued asking court to bar him from proceeding. We were just granted our injunction.

Big win for us and free speech!

Details tk

— Angelo Carusone (@GoAngelo) April 12, 2024

Congrats to @mmfa for walloping Elon Musk and Ken Paxton in court!

These recent court victories in CA and TX are more than just victories for MMFA and @CCDHate they are significant defeats for Musk in his war against free speech online. https://t.co/jEm33i25xS

— The Sparrow Project (@sparrowmedia) April 12, 2024