** Newsletter: Mark Robinson's Anti-Abortion Communications; Stefanie Lambert's Arrest
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Records obtained by American Oversight and reported on this week by the New York Times ([link removed]) include emails from last year in which North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is currently running for governor, indicated support for a six-week abortion ban and received sample legislation from a right-wing group.

As the Times lays out, Robinson — who in the past has supported former President Trump’s stolen-election lies ([link removed]) — has a “long history of inflammatory statements” that illustrate his far-right worldview and support for injecting his religious beliefs into government, including his opposition to abortion rights.
* According to the records, Robinson met with the N.C. Values Coalition in January 2023 to discuss a bill that would ban abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, usually around the sixth week of pregnancy.
* Robinson asked the group which lawmakers to pressure to support the policy. The N.C. Values Coalition followed up with a list of nine state senators and 26 state representatives to target, which was then shared by Robinson’s chief of staff with other people in his office.
* While North Carolina did not pass that measure, the legislature did ban abortion ([link removed]) after 12 weeks that May.


We’ve been investigating efforts to restrict reproductive rights across the country, filing public records requests in several states for communications, messaging guidance, and analyses about potential or current abortion bans.
* We also filed several requests seeking information about the potential use of surveillance technology to identify and prosecute abortion seekers in certain states. Read more about our investigation into efforts to restrict abortion rights here ([link removed]) .


Stefanie Lambert’s Election Denial Activities in Michigan
Attorney Stefanie Lambert was a key player in post-election hunts for non-existent widespread fraud, and last August was indicted in Michigan in connection with a plan to illegally access and tamper with voting machines ([link removed]) in 2021.
* On Monday, those charges caught up with her while she was in federal court representing Patrick Byrne ([link removed]) , the former Overstock CEO active in Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, who is being sued by ([link removed]) Dominion Voting Systems for defamation.
* At the conclusion of a hearing in Byrne’s case in Washington, D.C., Lambert was arrested on a bench warrant ([link removed]) .


When she was arrested, Lambert reportedly had just been questioned about having shared Dominion documents — case evidence she had signed a protective order agreeing not to share unless the judge allowed — with Sheriff Dar Leaf of Barry County, Mich.
* Leaf is another familiar name in the election denial movement, having advanced baseless claims about fraud through his own long-running investigation.
* Leaf is now fighting a subpoena ([link removed]) related to his investigation, claiming that turning over the subpoenaed documents would “usurp” the investigation.


We previously obtained records that shed light on Lambert’s and Leaf’s activities in Michigan and demonstrate how several of the same activists worked closely together to undermine trust in the election’s results.
* We obtained text messages ([link removed]) from Lambert and others about accessing and running tests on voting equipment in March and April 2021.
* Last August, we reached a settlement agreement with Leaf in a lawsuit that forced his office to release several records of its communications with prominent election deniers.

* The records ([link removed]) included copies of communications between Leaf and Catherine Engelbrecht ([link removed]) , the voter fraud alarmist who founded True the Vote.
* We also obtained an August 2022 email ([link removed]) in which Leaf shared information with four other county sheriffs about a joint meeting with Engelbrecht and “Greg” from True the Vote, likely referring to director Gregg Phillips.


On the Records

New College of Florida Hiring Records
American Oversight has obtained additional ([link removed]) records ([link removed]) that shed light on the controversial hiring and recruitment practices at New College of Florida. The documents include resumes of newly hired visiting professors, some of whom appear to have conservative political connections, like David Ellis, a visiting associate professor of political science who has promoted false claims about transgender people on a conservative blog he runs.
* We previously obtained documents that showed some recent hires had little to no prior education experience — but did have close ties to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or conservative politics.
* The records help shed light ([link removed]) on DeSantis’ efforts to reshape ([link removed]) the public liberal arts college into a conservative institution. Read more about our investigation into right-wing attacks on education here ([link removed]) .


Join Us for a Virtual Event!
On March 26 at 2 p.m. ET, we’ll be joined by voting-rights and election-administration experts from All Voting is Local, the Brennan Center, and the Campaign Legal Center for a discussion of how the election denial movement and far-right misinformation pushed nine states to reject the nonpartisan Electronic Registration Information Center.

Register now ([link removed]) for “Democracy Under Threat: The Campaign to Dismantle the ERIC Voter List System ([link removed]) ” to hear from our panelists on the anti-voter networks pushing the withdrawals from ERIC, the grave impacts of the exodus, and what it means for the 2024 election. We will share highlights from our in-depth investigation and report ([link removed]) , and attendees will be able to ask questions. Panelists include:
* Alex Gulotta, State Director at All Voting is Local, Arizona
* Andrew Graber, Democracy Counsel at the Brennan Center
* Brad Ashwell, State Director at All Voting is Local, Florida
* Chioma Chukwu, Deputy Director at American Oversight
* Jonathan Diaz, Director of Voting Advocacy and Partnerships at the Campaign Legal Center

Other Stories We're Following

Election Denial and Threats to Democracy
* To boost Trump, GOP attorneys general charge into battle over state election rules (News from the States ([link removed]) )
* ​​Republicans plan blitz of election-related lawsuits, but prospects uncertain (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Election workers are bracing for another barrage of Trump threats (Vanity Fair ([link removed]) )
* Election deniers skirted campaign finance laws in Wisconsin (Brennan Center ([link removed]) )
* A Central Valley politician was charged with voter fraud. Right-wing conspiracies took over (Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) )
* Texas county’s GOP officials declared hand count a success, but kept finding errors (Votebeat ([link removed]) )
* Experts war-gamed what might happen if deepfakes disrupt the 2024 election. Things went sideways fast. (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* AZ Republicans echo Kari Lake in claiming election fraud without sharing evidence (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* Republicans Kari Lake, Mark Finchem take rejected Arizona voting lawsuit to US Supreme Court (USA Today ([link removed]) )
* Supreme Court opens new frontier for insurrection claims that could target state and local officials (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Wisconsin false electors couldn’t serve as election officials under Democratic proposal (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )


Voting Rights
* Gov. Youngkin vetoes bills to rejoin voter data-sharing organization (Virginia Mercury ([link removed]) )
* Republicans want to ask voters to ban early voting, put 1,000-person cap on precincts (Arizona Mirror ([link removed]) )
* In a small Tohono O’odham village, Maricopa County uses tech to make voting more secure (Votebeat ([link removed]) )
* Who’ll prosecute election fraud in FL: elected state attorneys or appointed statewide prosecutor? (News from the States ([link removed]) )
* Push to cut tens of thousands from Allegheny County voter rolls feeds fears (PublicSource/WESA Pittsburgh ([link removed]) )
* Right-wing organization files new lawsuit to gain access to South Carolina voter rolls (Democracy Docket ([link removed]) )
* Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide if counties must release voter incompetency records (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Liberal Wisconsin justice won’t recuse herself from case on mobile voting van’s legality (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* McClinton unveils legislation to add early voting and same-day registration in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Capital-Star ([link removed]) )


In the States
* Wisconsin Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on recall election question (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )
* Georgia Senate panel backs bill piecing together several culture war issues (Atlanta Journal-Constitution ([link removed]) )
* Want to sue a Harris County constable's office for violating your rights? You can't. (Houston Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* Citing ESG policies, Texas Permanent School Fund pulls $8.5B investment from BlackRock (Austin American-Statesman ([link removed]) )
* One far-right leader ousted. Another barely hangs on. Is Shasta rejecting MAGA politics? (Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) )
* West Virginia questions FBI’s diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring, promotion practices (WTRF Wheeling ([link removed]) )


National News
* Apple has kept an illegal monopoly over smartphones in US, Justice Department says in antitrust suit (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Social Security program failed to properly notify people of huge fines, report finds (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


LGBTQ Rights
* Ohioans testify against Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed rules for transgender health care (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )
* Unfilled prescriptions, missed checkups and loneliness: Experts worry about health consequences from states’ anti-LGBTQ+ moves (19th News ([link removed]) )
* LGBTQ rights lawyers face potential sanctions over Alabama ‘judge shopping’ (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* England is limiting gender transitions for youths. US legislators are watching (Associated Press ([link removed]) )


Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* An abortion ban enacted in 1864 is under review in the Arizona Supreme Court (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* ‘Our prayer is that it doesn’t even reach the ballot’: Inside Arizona’s abortion battle (Politico ([link removed]) )
* Arkansas governor’s campaign manager leads abortion amendment opposition group (Arkansas Advocate ([link removed]) )
* New ‘better’ ballot initiative seeks to ban Nebraska abortions after first trimester of pregnancy (Nebraska Examiner ([link removed]) )
* Standard pregnancy care is now dangerously disrupted in Louisiana, report reveals (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Kansas abortion ‘coercion’ bill touted by out-of-state think tank that produced retracted research (News from the States ([link removed]) )
* How abortion is reshaping some races to become powerful state judges (ABC News ([link removed]) )
* Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Pharmaceutical companies worry the Supreme Court’s abortion pill ruling could have a wider effect on drugs and research (19th News ([link removed]) )


Threats to Education
* Utah governor signs bill making it easier to ban books statewide (News from the States ([link removed]) )
* Florida settlement’s limits on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law may give teachers and students breathing room (Chalkbeat ([link removed]) )
* Moms for Liberty candidates won less elections in 2023, but is winning the group’s goal? (USA Today ([link removed]) )
* Alabama Republicans pass expansive legislation targeting DEI (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Goldwater Institute sues ASU over training program, alleging free speech violations (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* Tom Horne's wife sues Phoenix school district over dual language program (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* They may not agree on how to define DEI, but that’s no problem for Kansas lawmakers attacking it (Associated Press ([link removed]) )


Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Delaware opened up access to some police misconduct records — but still denies requests for basic police data (Delaware Call ([link removed]) )
* Holcomb signs bill limiting power of Indiana's public records expert (Indianapolis Star ([link removed]) )


Immigration
* Appeals court again blocks Texas from arresting and deporting migrants (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* As Texas border arrests law teeters in court, other GOP states also push tougher immigration policy (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Enforcing Texas’ new immigration law may be challenging, even for authorities that support it (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Iowa passes bill to make returning after deportation a state crime (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* DeSantis says he might send any Haitian immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard (The Hill ([link removed]) )
* First DeSantis-chartered flight from Haiti carrying Americans lands in Florida (Politico ([link removed]) )


Trump Accountability
* Trump Media merger is approved, providing fresh source of cash (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Judge wants details on any Trump Organization attempts to secure a bond in its civil fraud case (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Pro-Trump attorney arrested after court hearing about leaked Dominion emails (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Trump calls for Liz Cheney to be jailed for investigating him over Capitol attack (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* Trump, GOP-led states argue ‘absolute presidential immunity’ claim to Supreme Court (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )
* Leonard Leo, Koch networks pour millions into groups prepping for potential second Trump administration (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Papers that delayed Trump’s NY trial involve key witness Michael Cohen (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Trump is making the Jan. 6 attack a cornerstone of his bid for the White House (Associated Press ([link removed]) )

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Thank you again for following our latest news. We are grateful for your support and for helping us hold government accountable.

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