Judge Sides With Susan B. Anthony List, Tosses Suit By Ohio Rep.

A U.S. district court judge has reversed himself and tossed out a defamation lawsuit brought by a former Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus against the Susan B. Anthony List, who, he said had misstated his position on abortion and led to his defeat, accourding to U.S. News & World Report.

Driehaus said the group had defamed him when it threatened to put up billboards accusing him of voting for taxpayer-funded abortions when he voted to pass Obamacare.

The judge reversed his decision saying that at the time "he was unable  to see the forest from the trees" but ultimately decided that the First Amendment prevailed in the case -- as free speech.

"While we're pleased with the outcome, this was a protracted legal battle that was taxing on our resources and should never have happened in a country that enshrines free speech," Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser, said. "The blatant disregard for the First Amendment and the Constitutional right of people to speak out against the actions of those elected to represent them is unacceptable."