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Artist News Legal
US Justice Department calls for dismissal of Insane Clown Posse lawsuit
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 24 June 2014
The US Justice Department has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought against it and the FBI by Insane Clown Posse and a number of their fans.
As previously reported, this story dates back to 2011, when the FBI added ICP fans, dubbed Juggalos, to its list of known criminal gangs. The hip hop duo launched their original lawsuit the following year, and then submitted a second, having hired a new legal team, in January.
They claim that the categorisation is unfair and has had a negative impact on some of their fans, with some having children taken away by the authorities and others being refused entry to the US Army.
According to the Associated Press, a lawyer representing the government, Amy Powell, argued in court yesterday that the group had no grounds to sue, saying that the government is not responsible for how information in the report is used. She added that despite ICP’s claims that the report contravened the first amendment right of their fans, “there is no general right of protection to a social association”.
Powell also pointed out that there is no reference to Juggalos in the latest edition of the report, published last year.
Insane Clown Posse members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, real names Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, did not appear in court yesterday. A decision on whether or not to dismiss the case is expected next month.
