A registered sex offender, William J. Hunsaker Jr., has filed multiple lawsuits against right-leaning political groups over the past two years, alleging illegal robocalls and texts because his phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Hunsaker sought damages ranging from $1,500 to $21,000 in these lawsuits. Among the defendants were Turning Point USA, the Denver Gazette, Save America, and various Republican campaigns and PACs, including those of Jim Jordan, Harriet Hageman, and Elise Stefanik. Some cases have been settled, while others are still pending.
The lawsuits were based on alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits autodialed or prerecorded calls and texts to mobile devices without prior consent. Political calls are exempt from the National Do Not Call registry, but entities can be fined up to $50,000 per call for illegally contacting numbers on the list. Hunsaker’s motive for the lawsuits came to light after it was discovered that he had a criminal record, including a conviction for sexual assault on a child in 2006. Despite his past, Hunsaker maintained that the groups he sued were not aware of his status as a sex offender.
Political groups are known to make a large number of robocalls, with over 83.4 million calls made in 2023. While there has been a slight decline in robocalls, political organizations continue to use text messages as a means of communication. Those who receive unauthorized calls or texts can sue the caller for damages ranging from $500 to $1,500 per violation. However, defendants in these cases often argue that they have implemented measures to prevent calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry.
Despite resistance from some of the defendants, Hunsaker remains determined to pursue legal action against political groups that engage in illegal robocalls or texts. While he claims not to be motivated by partisanship, Hunsaker has only sued right-leaning organizations so far. He indicated that he would be willing to sue liberal groups if they were to contact him in violation of the law. The outcome of the lawsuits against the remaining defendants, including the NRSC and various Republican campaigns, remains to be seen as the cases are ongoing.
Overall, Hunsaker’s lawsuits highlight the ongoing issue of illegal robocalls and texts from political organizations and the challenges in holding them accountable for violating consumer protection laws. While some cases have been settled, others are still pending, and the defendants are pushing back against the claims. As the legal battles continue, it remains to be seen how these cases will impact the practices of political groups and their compliance with regulations governing communication with consumers.
