Accountable.US launched the new campaign to identify some of the worst offenders across the country who are actively preventing progress on key issues impacting Americans   

Bankrolled by the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) —  the organization that helped incite the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Rutledge has been identified as one of Accountable.US’ top Enemies of Progress  

View Rutledge’s top offenses at www.EnemiesofProgress.org  

Washington, D.C. — Today, government watchdog Accountable.US announced that Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has been identified as an enemy of progress due to her opposition to key issues like addressing climate change and making health care accessible for all. The group launched a new campaign, “Enemies of Progress,” outlining the potential threats that Rutledge and other Republican attorneys general around the country pose to advancements that support all Americans. Accountable.US also released its first report highlighting how Rutledge and others are using their positions as top law enforcement officials to defend their campaign donors, not their constituents. 

“Instead of fighting for their best interests, Attorney General Rutledge is spending Arkansans’ taxpayer dollars on frivolous lawsuits against the Biden administration on behalf of her special interest donors,” said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US. “When Leslie Rutledge isn’t busy cozying up to an organization that helped incite a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, she spends Arkansas’ taxpayer dollars on lawsuits attacking the LGBTQ+ community. As Arkansans struggle to get back on their feet after the dual health and economic crises from the past year, Attorney General Rutledge’s priorities are clearly out of whack.”  

This new campaign exposes some of the worst offenders, including Rutledge, who have proven to be working towards one goal in their capacity as their state’s top law enforcement official: to slow down or prevent progress on some of the country’s toughest issues. Rutledge is joined by another 12 “Enemies of Progress” including the attorneys general from Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia. In the coming days, the effort will be amplified with paid ads in key states, including on social media and traditional media websites.    

“Poll after poll shows the public supports the Biden agenda, and any obstructionist who would abuse their power to protect profits of greedy special interests is an enemy of progress,” added Herrig.  

Visit the Enemies of Progress site here and read the report on how Rutledge is looking out for her campaign donors here.  

Here’s more on how Attorney General Rutledge was selected as a top “Enemy of Progress”:  

  • Bankrolled By RAGA, Organization That Incited The January 6th Capitol Insurrection, While Also Furthering RAGA’s Efforts To Undermine 2020 Election: Rutledge received over $40,000 in 2020 from RAGA and the Rule of Law Defense Fund, which helped organize and promote the January 6th “Stop the Steal” rally that led to a violent and deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Rutledge joined in lawsuits challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election on the same day that she received a message from Trump asking her to join the effort.
     
  • Fought Against Voter Access While Herself Being Registered To Vote in AR And DC: Rutledge’s office defended a voter identification law in 2018 that could have led to as many 1,200 voters’ ballots not being counted. In 2014, Rutledge herself had her voting registration in Arkansas cancelled because she had been registered to vote in both Washington, D.C. and Arkansas.
     
  • Endorsed Legislation Authorizing The AG To Enforce Anti-Trans Athlete Bill As Part Of Her Long History Opposing LGBTQ+ Rights Around Country: The Arkansas House sent to the governor Senate Bill 450, which was endorsed by AG Rutledge, and would empower the AG as an enforcement mechanism against schools that permit athletes assigned the male sex at birth to participate on female sports teams. Rutledge signed onto lawsuits restricting LGBTQ+ protects, blocked a local ordinance of the same nature, and even seemed to imply she does not recognize the existence of transgender people.   

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