Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, applauded a federal Court’s permanent injunction against Congress’s bill of attainder for ACORN. The injunction strikes the final blow against the Defund ACORN Act, which unconstitutionally singled out ACORN for punishment by Congress.

The Defund ACORN Act barred any federal funds from going specifically to ACORN or any affiliated organization. This violates the Constitution’s prohibition against bills of attainder, legislation aimed at inflicting punishment against an identifiable person or persons. On September 17th, Nadler was the first Member of Congress to speak out and denounce the unconstitutional legislation, and, with this week’s ruling, the Court has made clear that political animus cannot be a basis for legislation.

Nadler issued the following statement:

“This Court ruling is an unequivocal message that playing politics at the expense of our laws and principles has no place in American government. The Republicans rammed an unconstitutional bill of attainder through the Congress in order to dismantle an organization which, as it turned out, has not been found guilty of any crimes in a court of law. Shame on the Republicans for employing dishonest and illegal tactics to destroy their political enemies.

“Today, because of the McCarthyist and illegal actions against ACORN, the organization has lost its federal funding and ceased to exist. It is an unfortunate but important demonstration of just how much harm can de done by a legislature acting lawlessly. Justice takes time, and a person or an organization can be ruined before the court can vindicate their rights.

“As I said on the House floor in September, when the bill of attainder was introduced, Congress must not be in the business of punishing organizations or people without due process. The Republican amendment was flatly unconstitutional, and we ignore the Constitution at our own peril. Constitutional principles are there to protect all of our liberties and cannot be compromised – certainly not for political witch hunts.

“I commend Judge Gershon for her courageous defense of the Constitution and the rule of law.”

To view the video of Congressman Nadler's original statement on the floor of the House of Representatives click here .