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Friday, March 29, 2024

Craigslist wants judge to rethink suit against S.C. AG

McMaster

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - Online classified website Craigslist wants a federal judge to reconsider dismissing its lawsuit against South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster.

Craigslist told The Associated Press on Thursday that McMaster's statements that his office continues to investigate the website "represents a threat" to its employees.

In August, a U.S. District Court judge turned down Craigslist's request for a permanent injunction that would've banned McMaster from attempting to prosecute the site.

In 2009, the attorney general threatened to prosecute Craigslist executives for abetting prostitution unless the company blocked adult ads.

McMaster gave Craigslist a 10-day window on May 5, 2009 to remove what he said were South Carolina sections on which prostitutes were soliciting themselves and graphic material was being posted. On May 13, 2009, Craigslist reached a nationwide agreement to drop its erotic services section.

Craigslist responded by going to court to request an injunction banning the attorney general from threatening any further criminal investigation.

U.S. District Court Judge C. Weston Houck turned down Craigslist's request for a permanent injunction, saying any threat of prosecution is too remote to warrant action.

A hearing is set for February, the AP reported.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.

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