A new conservative group, FEC United, is asking its supporters for money so it can sue a reporter with the Colorado Times Recorder (CTR) reporter.

Decrying what it calls “unchecked journalism,” FEC United sent out a fundraising email Nov. 3 with the subject line, “Help FEC United Fight for Fairness in Journalism.” In it, FEC claimed that this reporter “slandered” the group, its affiliated militia entity (the United American Defense Force), and their respective leaders, FEC founder Joe Oltmann and UADF leader John Tiegen.

Oltmann has been threatening to sue the Colorado Times Recorder for weeks, ever since CTR published its first article about FEC United on Oct 12. Oltmann objected to multiple aspects of the reporting, though he declined to specify anything besides an initial characterization of his professional title, which was corrected.

Days later at an FEC event for Republican candidates, he publicly threatened to doxx journalists who wrote unfavorable stories about FEC United.

“You want to know what doxxing looks like?” Oltmann said, “…we’re coming for you… If you’re part of the media and you write something bad about us, better take your byline off it.”

The lawsuit against CTR will supposedly be the inaugural project of FEC United’s Law & Policy Center, an entity that has been proposed by Kristi Burton Brown, who also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Colorado Republican Party. She has described as it an “action center” that will file “strategic lawsuits.” Brown is an attorney licensed to practice in California, but not Colorado.

For the record, slander is a defamatory statement that is spoken, not written.

Read the full text of the FEC United email below:

As some of our members may know, Erik Maulbetsch is a reporter for the Colorado Times Recorder. He has slandered FEC United, the United American Defense Force, Joe Oltmann, and John “Tig” Tiegen directly numerous times.

This kind of unchecked journalism has collapsed countless organizations, businesses, and families over the past several years — but the lies stop here.

FEC United’s Law and Policy Center’s first pursuit of justice will be to fight journalism’s unequal treatment of conservative organizations and conservative voices.

This is a battle that has long been postponed and ignored by conservatives as we have become accustomed to “drowning out the noise” and biases in American media.

We are calling on YOU to help us make this happen. We must prepare to defend and protect free speech, the right to assemble, and the right for protections from those who attempt to falsify information with the intent to spread fear and hate.

Are you ready?

Because we, FEC United, are ready to take a stand. Take a stand with us and donate now: https://app4.fecunited.com/FEC/Lawsuit