Conservative election activist Cleta Mitchell has requested a protective order from a federal court to prevent left-of-center activist group Democracy NC from using a deposition to collect information against her election integrity work. Mitchell’s involvement in supporting President Trump after the 2020 election made her a target in a lawsuit brought by Democracy NC challenging a provision in an election reform law in North Carolina. She argues that she has had a limited role in the legislation’s development and the broad scope of questioning sought by plaintiffs exceeds her First Amendment rights. The trial is set for August 2025.
In a separate document, Mitchell clarified her involvement in the legislation, stating that she had minimal input and was incorrectly identified by the Governor of North Carolina as a primary advocate. Mitchell’s concern is that the deposition questions go beyond the scope of the lawsuit and invade her privacy, potentially dissuading others from seeking her advice. Mitchell also highlighted the organizations involved in the lawsuit, pointing out that they have previously sued the Public Interest Legal Foundation, of which she is a founder.
The complaint is part of three active lawsuits challenging the same provision in the legislation, with a trial scheduled for 2025. Despite an injunction blocking the provision, temporary rules have been adopted by the State Board of Elections to address concerns raised by the court. Mitchell’s request for a protective order is based on her concerns about the invasive questioning and potential harassment due to her work on election integrity.
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