Fifth Circuit Delays Media Matters Donor Discovery in X Corp Case

In November 2023, X Corp. initiated legal proceedings against Media Matters for America, requesting detailed information about its donors and related communications. This included specific Requests for Production, which sought to uncover not only the identities of all donors but also their personal information and any discussions regarding financial support to Media Matters. However, the district court recognized that fulfilling these requests could expose the organization and its donors to potential harassment and intimidation. The Fifth Circuit judges emphasized the legitimacy of the First Amendment concerns raised by Media Matters. They determined that the sensitive nature of the requested donor information warranted a careful examination of the implications of such disclosures. While X Corp. argued that this information could aid in proving claims of intentional interference with contracts and defamation, the court found that the relevance of these requests did not justify the infringement on First Amendment rights. Ultimately, the judges agreed to stay the district court’s order compelling production, allowing Media Matters to log its claims of privilege rather than disclose sensitive data immediately. They observed that Media Matters had not adequately asserted its privilege claims in previous responses, yet the concerns regarding donor privacy were compelling enough to justify further review. This ruling suggests that the legal battle between X Corp. and Media Matters is likely to continue, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding donor privacy rights in the context of political and media advocacy in the United States.