---
title: An End to Political Witch Hunts - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: Campaign finance laws are weaponized to harass political opponents; WyLib argues this abuse confirms reform efforts undermine rather than protect democracy.
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\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Explore ### Timeless Topics <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/an-end-to-political-witch-hunts?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # An End to Political Witch Hunts \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) Tuesday, 07 October 2014 An unfortunate trend in election law is emerging across America. Campaign finance laws—first designed to supposedly eliminate corruption in government—often instead become the tools of \[political operatives\](http://www.rochester.edu/College/PSC/primo/FullDisclosurePrimoIJReport.pdf) used to delay, impede, and harass opponents. In other words, campaign finance reform itself is corrupting; its tool is the \[criminalization\](http://watchdog.org/174987/john-doe-raids-eric-okeefe/) of American politics. Last week, WyLiberty celebrated an important win in the battle against this criminalization. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared, once and for all, that Tom DeLay was innocent of all claims that he violated state election law or laundered money. WyLiberty played an important role in that fight and our friends of the court brief helped ensure that the First Amendment rights of speakers just like Mr. DeLay will be protected nationwide. To recall, \[Texans for Public Justice\](http://www.tpj.org) filed a complaint against Mr. DeLay alleging that money swaps—where certain kinds of donations are traded for other ones—constituted criminal acts in Texas. Of course, Republicans and Democrats alike had used these swaps for years totaling millions of dollars. We thought it especially unfair that one man, Mr. DeLay, was the subject of a vast investigation into his life just because he was effective politically. America is a nation that celebrates rigorous debate, political innovation, and standing up for your beliefs. We are a nation of independent thoughts, ideologies, and opinions. A rigorously upheld First Amendment secures this independence— it stops thought crimes, the criminalization of politics, and the chilling of our public debate. While we celebrate a momentary victory in Texas, we look forward to further engagement across America. In \[Wisconsin\](http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/do-gag-orders-in-john-doe-violate-first-amendment-rights-b99363173z1-278024891.html), conservative groups still battle against a speech inquisition, including pre-dawn raids. Back in Texas, \[Empower Texans\](http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Texas/2014/02/27/Michael-Quinn-Sullivan-Files-Federal-Lawsuit-Against-TEC) must push back against the state prying into their private political affairs. And in Arizona, state officials are worried that the \[Free Enterprise Club\](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2014/08/16/election-officials-reasonable-cause-arizona-free-enterprise-club-broke-law/14154035/) might be "operating illegally." What is abundantly clear is that those who enjoy power in the status quo do not very much appreciate the disruptive influence of groups like Empower Texans or the Wisconsin Club for Growth. But these groups are important to our local and national dialogue about the future of our country. To criminalize their efforts is a disgrace to our nation's commitment to free speech. WyLiberty looks forward to engaging the speech police wherever they may strike in order to ensure that the First Amendment functions to preserve our sacred liberty to espouse political beliefs and values and to work together to realize them. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[First Amendment\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/first-amendment) \[Free Speech\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/free-speech) \[ An Outsider’s View of Wyoming’s Failed Juvenile Ju... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/an-outsider-s-view-of-wyoming-s-failed-juvenile-justice-system-our-problems-are-bigger-than-you-think) \[ Embracing a Prospective First Amendment for Campai... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/embracing-a-prospective-first-amendment-for-campaign-finance-disclosure) #### Related Posts ### \[There is No Direct Democracy Solution for Local Control of Data Centers in Wyoming\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/there-is-no-direct-democracy-solution-for-local-control-of-data-centers-in-wyoming) \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) ### \[Wyoming “Synthetic Media” Bill Aims at Deep Fakes, Hits Free Speech\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/wyoming-synthetic-media-bill-aims-at-deep-fakes-hits-free-speech) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[“News Source Shield Law” Treats Journalists as a Special Interest\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/news-source-shield-law-treats-journalists-as-a-special-interest) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[The Celebrated Fake Frog That Is Taking Down the Deep State\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/the-celebrated-fake-frog-that-is-taking-down-the-deep-state) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Regulating “Dark Money” is Code for Censorship\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/regulating-dark-money-is-code-for-censorship) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Defense Distributed and Citizens United: From Banning Guns to Banning Books\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/defense-distributed-and-citizens-united-from-banning-guns-to-banning-books) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))