Self-proclaimed ‘anti-censorship’ activists are once again proving their hypocrisy through censorship tactics! These activists gather in small numbers, loudly accusing their opponents of being ‘Christo-Fascist Nazis’ for allegedly censoring erotic children’s books. Even though the Louisiana Association of School Librarians strongly disagrees, moving sexually explicit books from the children’s section to the adult section isn’t censorship.
However, these same anti-censorship proponents have no problem with government-funded lawyers writing threatening letters to Christians, demanding they self-censor, or else. Think that’s hyperbole? It’s just another intimidation tactic from the hard left embedded in St. Tammany’s Parish government.
Is the 22nd District Attorney’s Office Fighting for the Library or Against Free Speech?
St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney James J. Bolner, Jr. has sent one of those “lawyer letters” to Dan Kleinman, a prominent library watchdog. He demanded that Kleinman censor some of his public research into explicit materials in children’s sections of libraries. Bolner claims Kleinman’s release of recorded conversations involving parish council members violates legislative privilege, citing a Fifth Circuit ruling that doesn’t actually support his argument.
Critics argue Bolner’s interpretation is misleading at best. The Fifth Circuit’s ruling vacated a lower court decision on procedural grounds. It never ruled that legislative privilege extends beyond state legislatures to parish councils. Bolner’s sweeping claim of legislative privilege is legally untested and, conveniently, only benefits those in power.
Kleinman, who is known nationally for his advocacy through SafeLibraries, posted transcripts and recordings revealing local officials’ attitudes toward those who opposed explicit materials accessible to minors. Bolner warned Kleinman of potential legal consequences if he continued sharing the materials without permission from council member Jeff Corbin.
Censorship!?
Bolner’s actions are a textbook case of government intimidation and censorship. Is it just a coincidence that this legal intimidation happens as the parish library tax renewal vote approaches? Whether or not the attempt to silence critics of the library’s policies is directly linked to the upcoming election, the practical effect has been to chill criticism, leading critics like Kleinman to self-censor.
This incident mirrors a similar occurrence involving Citizens for a New Louisiana. The City of Youngsville’s legal counsel attempted to silence investigative reporting on questionable actions by their city council. Transparency advocates are seeing these legal tactics become a common method for public officials to deter citizen journalism, transparency, and accountability.
Yet again, government officials are using intimidation to control narratives, silence dissent, and influence an upcoming tax vote. The playing field isn’t just slanted—it’s rigged and always in favor of the hard left. If they wanted full transparency, Assistant District Attorney James J. Bolner, Jr. might as well file his legal threats as an in-kind campaign contribution to the library’s March 29th tax renewal.
Defending the Truth Comes at a Cost
At Citizens for a New Louisiana, we’ve always believed that shining a light into the dark corners of government comes with risks. Those who prefer secrecy don’t just push back—they weaponize the courts, hoping to intimidate and bankrupt those who expose the truth. One of our allies now faces this exact battle. A parent advocate in New Jersey has been hit with not one but two federal defamation lawsuits filed by the same Louisiana librarian who’s also trying to silence us through legal threats. The goal isn’t justice; it’s suppression.
History reminds us that those who fight corruption often pay a heavy price. Winston Churchill once said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” We won’t be bullied into silence. If you believe in holding public institutions accountable and defending free speech, consider standing with those on the front lines.
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