AKRON, Ohio (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a constitutional challenge to an Ohio law against internet harassment brought by a group of liberal and conservative online political commentators.
Akron-based U.S. District Court Judge Sara Lioi (lee-OY’) found late last month that a liberal blog, a county Tea Party organization and a freelance political reporter who brought the suit faced no credible threat of prosecution and therefore lacked the standing to sue.
Plaintiffs were weighing an appeal.
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At issue is a 2016 state law that prohibits knowingly posting text, audio statements or images on a website “for the purpose of abusing … or harassing another person.”
The commentators had argued their frequent use of “invective, ridicule and strong language” against politicians could have subjected them to penalties under the law.
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