Federal judge orders pro-Trump TV ads funded by taxpayers off air immediately

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Sunday to stop airing ads funded by the U.S. government that portray President Donald Trump in a favorable light, effective immediately.

The lawsuit was brought by the watchdog group Common Cause; Robert Hunter, a Democratic candidate for a seat in the Alabama state House; and a labor union in New York and its political action committee. The suit was one of several similar complaints — including one by the Democratic National Committee — that were filed to get the ads off the air.

“Plaintiffs have demonstrated that they are likely to succeed on the merits, will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction, the balance of the equities tips in their favor, and an injunction serves the public interest,” U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon of the Southern District of New York wrote.

The administration had said in a court filing Saturday that the Department of Homeland Security, via a vendor, had placed ad buys through Sunday and had told the vendor to not purchase ads beyond that day.

Rochon said the plaintiffs’ argument was not moot, however, and ordered the Trump administration to “cancel or cause to be cancelled” any…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health