GOP committee, alleged impostors argue in court
For nearly two hours Tuesday, three Butler PA Patriots members defended themselves in a Common Pleas Court hearing about whether they could use the name “Butler County Republican Committee” as part of a lawsuit brought by the established county committee.
The three members — Bill Halle, Zach Scherer and Erik Edwards — appeared without a lawyer and asked county President Judge S. Michael Yeager to dissolve a preliminary injunction against them, which prevents them from using the committee’s name, arguing the Butler County Republican Committee does not have a monopoly on the name — or even any right to use it.
The established committee filed suit May 4, alleging Halle, Scherer and Edwards registered a nonprofit corporation and fictitious name with the Pennsylvania Department of State under the name “Butler County Republican Committee.” They alleged the trio did so with the intent to “deceive or commit a fraud” on the public, fundraise and endorse candidates for public office, which Halle explicitly denied Tuesday.
“We, of course, don’t know what the court’s going to do with this, but we’re disappointed we even have to do this,” committee chairman Al Lindsay said following the hearing. “Our concern was they would use our name to endorse candidates and, perhaps, fundraise. I just don’t know what their end is other than that.”
Halle, Scherer and Edwards declined to comment after the hearing.
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