Oversight Project Steps in to Defend Libs of Tik Tok Against the ACLU of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2026
Washington, D.C. – A senior Florida State employee made a statement mocking Charlie Kirk’s assination in its immediate aftermath. Libs of Tik Tok promptly reported on this statement: 
The Florida employee was (rightly) promptly fired. But then the ACLU of Florida (“ACLU”) sued on her behalf in an attempt to reinstate her. As part of that lawsuit the ACLU issued a third-party subpoena to Libs of Tik Tok seeking its communications with the State Government (including those that were entirely unrelated to the post above), which the ACLU could easily obtain from the State Government itself in their lawsuit, and which appeared to be designed to force Libs of Tik Tok—a journalist—to reveal its sources. When Libs of Tik Tok rightly refused to reveal its sources, the ACLU sued to enforce its subpoena.
When Libs of Tik Tok first sought representation to defend themselves they were quoted tens of thousands of dollars in fees including from ostensibly conservative firms seeking to maximize profit. The Oversight Project jumped into the void and took on the representation pro bono. The Oversight Project filed a brief and declarations aggressively opposing the ACLU’s lawsuit to enforce the subpoena. Over the weekend, the ACLU completely caved, stating they believed the subpoena was satisfied, and dismissed their lawsuit. The Oversight Project is proud to have obtained a complete victory for Libs of Tik Tok.
Oversight Project President Mike Howell made the following statement:
“We are always going to defend our allies when we can. The lawfare is out of control and the so-called conservative legal movement is nowhere to be found unless big fat checks are there. We can’t leave our friends behind, particularly ones as brave and important as Chaya Raichik.”
Chaya Raichik, Chief Executive Officer of the Libs of Tik Tok stated:
“The ACLU was founded to protect freedom of speech and civil liberties. Subpoenaing a journalist for its sources on a news story is contrary to everything they were originally founded upon. The ACLU has sadly become just another leftwing activist organization. When we didn’t have anywhere else to turn we called the Oversight Project. The Oversight Project responded immediately and came to our defense. There are too few organizations willing to come to the legal defense of aligned groups, but the Oversight Project is always there.”
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