The satirical news website, famous for using humor to humiliate Democrats, filed a complaint in late September against two draconian state laws that punish political-related satire online.
The two laws approved by the state legislature, AB 2839 and AB 2655, vow to punish and fine political-related posts that are “likely to harm” a candidate’s “electoral prospects.”
The laws also require a disclaimer that states the reader is viewing satire and also allow a confused reader to sue for damages.
The Babylon Bee and attorney Kelly Rickert, a California-based blogger, are co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They are represented by Alliance Defending Freedom.
Citing court documents, legal news website Stand for Freedom reported this week that California has agreed it won’t enforce one of the laws, AB 2839, that would have punished the Bee and Rickert. That is because a second lawsuit, filed by plaintiff Chris Kohls, is being consolidated with the lawsuit by the Bee and Rickert.
In his own lawsuit, Kohls won a preliminary injunction in an Oct. 2 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge John Mendez.
Concerned that AB 2839 went into effect immediately, the Bee and Rickert had also asked for a preliminary injunction from the federal court. They have now won that injunction thanks to the consolidated lawsuits, and now that lawsuit is proceeding in the federal court.
ADF attorney Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse tells AFN the order handed down this week delivered preliminary relief for the plaintiffs in the case.
“So this court this case will continue,” he says, “and we'll see we'll see how it unfolds."
It is unclear from court documents who is representing Kohls, who is known as "Mr. Reagan" on YouTube and on X.
