Columbus, OH – The Buckeye Institute has filed a second amicus brief in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland. The organization is urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reconsider its decision and reinstate a preliminary nationwide injunction on the Corporate Transparency Act.
Robert Alt, president and CEO of The Buckeye Institute, expressed concerns about the law’s implications: “As most of us look forward to spending time with friends and families over the holidays, the Biden administration has shouted bah humbug and asked the courts to allow it to enforce a law enabling the unconstitutional federal surveillance of small businesses.”
The Buckeye Institute initially filed an amicus brief on December 20, seeking to prevent approximately 32 million small businesses from having to register detailed personal information about their beneficial owners with the federal government by December 31, 2024. This effort follows a recent ruling by a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit that removed an earlier injunction.
If implemented, this law would require millions of small business owners to comply during the holiday season or face penalties. These include criminal charges and fines of $500 per day for late or inaccurate reporting.
On December 3, a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction against this law, labeling it as “likely unconstitutional.” However, on December 13, the federal government appealed this decision in hopes of reinstating the deadline.
The Center for Individual Rights is representing Texas Top Cop Shop in this legal battle.
