WASHINGTON, D.C. - Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) has issued a formal demand for retraction to NBC News regarding their recent inflammatory article targeting evangelical churches' legitimate voter engagement activities. The article mischaracterizes standard get-out- the-vote efforts and demonstrates a clear bias against faith-based civic participation.
Jesse Binnall of Binnall Law, representing Citizens Defending Freedom on the matter, provided in the demand letter, "There is no prohibition—nor could there be under the First Amendment— against any political candidate or organization speaking to a church, so long as competing candidates or organizations have the same opportunity to speak."
CDF, as a member of the Remnant Alliance, educates the general public on religious liberty and constitutional matters, and participates in church-based voter engagement activities. In the letter, CDF emphasized that the Internal Revenue Service explicitly permits churches to conduct non-partisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, directly contradicting NBC's recent reporting.
CDF's demand letter specifically addressed Turning Point Action's "Super Chase" events, arguing these activities qualify as protected voter mobilization efforts under existing IRS guidance, pointing out that NBC's selective scrutiny fails to apply similar scrutiny to comparable activities conducted by progressive organizations. Moreover, CDF warned that NBC's coverage could potentially violate federal laws prohibiting voter intimidation.
In its defense of religious institutions' civic engagement, CDF emphasized that churches maintain clear constitutional protections to conduct a wide range of activities. These protected activities include organizing voter registration drives, encouraging civic participation, hosting non-partisan voter education forums, distributing voter guides and broadly engaging their congregants in the democratic process, much of which CDF participates in as a member of the Remnant Alliance.
As pointed out by Binnall, "Religious organizations have played a vital role in American civic life since our nation's founding,".... "[a]ttempts to silence their voices through intimidation tactics not only violate constitutional principles but undermine our democratic traditions."
CDF has put NBC News on notice to preserve all documents and communications related to the article's development and sources. The organization is prepared to take legal action if necessary to protect religious institutions' rights to engage in constitutionally protected activities.
About Citizens Defending Freedom:
Founded in 2021, Citizens Defending Freedom is a non-profit organization that strategically operates in counties across America to help citizens defend their faith and freedom, all while fighting for transparency in local government. Currently, Citizens Defending Freedom is established in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas, with plans to continue expanding across America. Click here to learn more about Citizens Defending Freedom.