Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is getting a little taste of what she deserves after violating the law. Pelosi was forced to pay a fine of $7,500 to Jorge Rojas, an Illinois resident, who filed a lawsuit alleging that Pelosi’s political campaign sent him 21 text messages in violation of the do-not-call laws, asking for donations. Rojas had initially demanded $31,500 in damages, $1,500 per violation, but later withdrew the lawsuit in February after receiving the agreed settlement.
The text messages sent by Pelosi during her fundraising campaign ahead of the 2022 elections contained unusual claims, according to the lawsuit filed by Rojas. Some of the messages included that “Republicans were fleeing the Senate,” in reference to the retirement of three Republican senators that year, that Democrats had a “one-in-a-lifetime chance” to hold the House, Senate, and White House; and that Marco Rubio was in danger of losing his Senate seat in Florida.
Despite being one of the most successful fundraisers for the Democratic party, Pelosi has often been criticized for her frequent and untimely appeals for donations. Immediately after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Pelosi sent out a nationwide fundraising appeal, drawing the ire of activists.
Less than an hour after the repealing of Roe V. Wade Nancy Pelosi uses it to ask for more donations. (2022) pic.twitter.com/0ZcytQq0VS
— crazy ass moments in american politics (@ampol_moment) June 24, 2022
While politicians are generally exempt from the limitations of the Do Not Call Registry, political campaigns can be held liable for sending pre-recorded calls or text messages to voters who have registered with the registry. As a result, lawsuits against political campaigns concerning illegal text messages or robocalls have become more common in recent times.
Pelosi has remained silent in her official duties as a House representative of late, but expressed strong opinions regarding the indictment of President Trump by the corrupt Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for alleged financial fraud. The former Speaker stated that “No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence. Hopefully, the former President will peacefully respect the system, which grants him that right.”