Nancy Pelosi Settles Lawsuit Over ‘Invasive and Harassing’ Texts, Pays Illinois Man $7,500
California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s campaign got busted and had to settle with an Illinois man who sued her for violating federal law. Pelosi paid $7,500 to an Illinois man who accused the former Speaker of violating federal robocalling laws.
In October 2022, a Bolingbrook, Illinois resident named Jorge Rojas filed a 13-page lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois accusing Pelosi and her campaign of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991.
Rojas’ lawsuit said: “As the Supreme Court has explained, Americans passionately disagree about many things. But they are largely united in their disdain for robocalls. The government receives a staggering number of complaints about robocalls—3.7 million complaints in 2019. The States likewise field a constant barrage of complaints.
“This case involves a campaign by Defendants which placed illegal, campaign-related prerecorded and automated texts to Plaintiff’s telephone number, which were not consented to.
“Plaintiff registered his phone number on the Do Not Call Registry to obtain solitude from invasive and harassing telemarketing calls. The call prevented Plaintiff from using his phone for legitimate purposes.
“Call 1. On or about November 30, 2021, at 12:12 PM Chicago time, Plaintiff received a text from Defendants, from 844-616-1016.
“The text identified above contained an image of Pelosi.
“Call 2. On or about November 30, 2021, at 12:12 PM Chicago time, Plaintiff received a text from Defendants, from 844-616-1016.
“The text identified above stated ‘It’s Nancy Pelosi. I don’t usually send you texts this long, but this is dire. Three reports just revealed Dems’ Majority is in critical danger.
“‘I need you to read my entire message, then rush $13 before tonight’s End of Month Deadline to keep Republicans from EVER holding power again.’”
According to Insider:
But months later, on February 22, Rojas moved to dismiss the suit against Pelosi.
And according to federal campaign finance disclosures made public on Friday, the dismissal came after Rojas received a $7,500 payment marked “Settlement” from Pelosi’s congressional campaign.
NEW — have you ever received a Pelosi fundraising text like this?
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) April 17, 2023
An Illinois man who received 21 of them sued Pelosi for $31,500, accusing her of violating anti-robocalling laws.
Her campaign paid him a $7,500 settlement, according to new FEC filings.https://t.co/8I0Jgvesw8 pic.twitter.com/tHNJfMPDVS
The man, who accused Pelosi and her campaign of "malicious, intentional, willful, reckless, wanton and negligent disregard" for his rights, also hilariously included the *full text* of some of the fundraising texts in his 13-page lawsuit.https://t.co/8I0Jgvesw8 pic.twitter.com/8afDAWFdT9
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) April 17, 2023
I've now updated the story with a copy of the original October 2022 complaint in Rojas v. Nancy Pelosi for Congress et al:https://t.co/8I0Jgvesw8 pic.twitter.com/OjWGNiJGVF
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) April 17, 2023