Federal judge halts Trump administration’s taxpayer-funded television ads
publishers 101articles 158first reported 25 Sep, 03:28 UTCdeveloping since 25 Sep · 24 editions
A federal judge in New York ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing and purchasing taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump, granting a temporary restraining order Sunday night.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon directed the administration to cancel all remaining placements, including commercials scheduled for Sunday evening, and barred it from entering, renewing or expanding agreements related to the campaign. She also blocked further spending from the $20 million allocated by the Department of Homeland Security and stayed a purchase order between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and contractor Lepugh Inc., doing business as LMD Agency Inc.
The ads began airing in late September and carried a disclaimer saying they were paid for by the U.S. government. Critics said they promoted Trump’s political message ahead of the November midterm elections and violated restrictions on using congressionally appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda. CNBC reported that about $19 million had already been spent.
Rochon found that the coalition challenging the campaign, which includes Common Cause, was likely to succeed in its lawsuit and could suffer irreparable harm without an injunction. She rejected the Justice Department’s argument that an order was unnecessary because the campaign was already set to end Sunday.
The White House has characterized the commercials as public service announcements. Trump previously called them a “positive promotion for our great USA” and said political fundraising would pay for them going forward. The Democratic National Committee has filed a separate federal lawsuit seeking to stop the campaign.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 282 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 101
- Source articles
- 158
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 282 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Two details need tightening to match the sourced wording and contracting party. - "granting a 14-day temporary restraining order Sunday night": The sources say the order lasts 14 days unless extended or during the two-week duration, not that the judge granted a 14-day temporary restraining order as a named order. - "contractor LMD Agency": CNBC identifies the contractor as Lepugh Inc., doing business as LMD Agency Inc.; 'LMD Agency' alone is incomplete/misstates the contracting party. - "The Democratic National Committee has filed a separate federal lawsuit seeking to stop the campaign.": The sources say the DNC sued President Donald Trump’s administration or that U.S. Democrats challenged the ads, not specifically that the Democratic National Committee filed a separate federal lawsuit in the same level of detail from the main sources; however France24 supports this, so no issue.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Federal judge halts Trump administration’s taxpayer-funded television ads
A federal judge in New York ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing and purchasing taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump, granting a 14-day temporary restraining order Sunday night.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon directed the administration to cancel all remaining placements, including commercials scheduled for Sunday evening, and barred it from entering, renewing or expanding agreements related to the campaign. She also blocked further spending from the $20 million allocated by the Department of Homeland Security and stayed a purchase order between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and contractor Lepugh Inc., doing business as LMD Agency.Agency Inc.
The ads began airing in late September and carried a disclaimer saying they were paid for by the U.S. government. Critics said they promoted Trump’s political message ahead of the November midterm elections and violated restrictions on using congressionally appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda. CNBC reported that about $19 million had already been spent.
Rochon found that the coalition challenging the campaign, which includes Common Cause, was likely to succeed in its lawsuit and could suffer irreparable harm without an injunction. She rejected the Justice Department’s argument that an order was unnecessary because the campaign was already set to end Sunday.
The White House has characterized the commercials as public service announcements. Trump previously called them a “positive promotion for our great USA” and said political fundraising would pay for them going forward. The Democratic National Committee has filed a separate federal lawsuit seeking to stop the campaign.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →