Last month in New York, a multifaith coalition bringing a challenge to the unlawful creation of the Trump-Vance administration’s so-called “Religious Liberty Commission” pointed to new government disclosures in their lawsuit that revealed many of the documents the unlawful and secretive commission had been hiding from the public as proof of the power of litigation.
Earlier this year, Interfaith Alliance, Muslims For Progressive Values, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Hindus For Human Rights united to file a lawsuit challenging the unlawful creation of the so-called Religious Liberty Commission, highlighting violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the unbalanced and biased viewpoints assembled for the panel. The coalition is represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Democracy Forward in the matter.
In a late-night filing just before a court deadline, the government notified the court that it has finally publicly posted many of the Religious Liberty Commission’s transcripts, meeting minutes, witness testimonies, run of show, hearing summaries, and hearing recommendations.
While the case will continue to argue that the commission is illegally biased in favor of a single “Judeo-Christian” viewpoint favored by President Trump, the long overdue publication of these documents is a resounding concession by the government and a significant victory for the coalition. It demonstrates the necessity of challenging the administration’s unlawful actions.
“We’re glad the commission is finally taking some of its legal duties seriously, but it shouldn’t take a federal lawsuit to force compliance with basic rules like showing your work,” said AU CEO and President Rachel Laser. “These files only confirm for all to see the fatal flaw at the core of this commission: its Christian Nationalist bias. Rather than advancing religious liberty, this commission is intent on imposing one ultra-conservative version of Christianity on all Americans.”