No Labels asks Justice Department to investigate alleged ‘conspiracy’ to block ballot efforts

No Labels, a nonprofit trying to build support for a third-party ticket in 2024, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice over what leaders contend are organizations engaging in a “conspiracy” to interfere with its ballot access effort.

During a press briefing Thursday, group leaders alleged a “brazen” attempt among mostly Democratic-aligned outside groups to curb its work to build popular support for a unity candidate in November.

“We have requested a formal investigation into the matter by the Department of Justice to get to the bottom of this once and for all and to determine if laws have been violated,” said Dan Webb, a No Labels volunteer and lawyer.

“There is a group of activists and operatives and party officials who have participated in alleged illegal conspiracy to use intimidation, harassment and fear against representatives of No Labels, its donors and its potential candidates,” he said. 

“We decided it was time to fight back,” Webb added. “Their tactics are becoming increasingly brazen.”

No Labels has been criticized by Democrats and some Republicans for carrying out a costly and expansive ballot access initiative in a high-stakes election, collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures to show momentum around a possible independent candidate. They have not released a donor list, which has infuriated major party figures pushing for more public information about funding.

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), a leading proponent of the group, said “the American people want another choice for president this year” and that “No Labels is working to provide that choice.”

“No one in our country has a right to prevent that choice from being offered to the voters,” he added, articulating the basis of the complaint with the DOJ.

Leaders of No Labels have expressed frustration throughout the cycle that they have been wrongfully attacked by both establishment Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans who see their initiative as an affront to the movement to stop former President Trump from winning the White House for the second time. The tensions between No Labels and outside pro-democracy advocates has grown particularly tense as Trump inches closer towards becoming the Republican presidential nominee.

The group is now on the ballot in 14 states, with plans to secure 13 more currently in the works, according to executive director Margaret White.

After this week’s Iowa caucuses, which showed Trump as the clear winner, speculation mounted that GOP presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley could be an intriguing choice for No Labels and its supporters, who many believe lean toward a moderate Republican candidate. Haley has already shown significant support among traditional conservative donors. 

Lieberman said the group would potentially consider her as a candidate to rally around, but that it would depend on whether “she declares any interest in being part of our bipartisan unity ticket,” he said, noting that they’re “talking to a lot of people in both parties about potentially running.”

“None of them have said no, but none of them have really said, ‘Yes, I’m ready,’” he said.