August 15, 2025: She Enjoined the FTC Civil Investigative Demand to Media Matters.

DOCUMENTED

Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C.

Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. Voice of America. U.S. government work.

Media Matters for America v. Federal Trade Commission, Civil Action No. 25-1959 (SLS), United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. On August 15, 2025, she granted a preliminary injunction. The order enjoined the defendants from implementing or enforcing the civil investigative demand the FTC served on Media Matters on May 20, 2025, and modified on July 7, 2025. ECF 35.

The memorandum opinion (ECF 34) found Media Matters likely to succeed on a First Amendment retaliation claim and granted the PI. A preliminary injunction is not a final judgment. The docket later records a stipulation of dismissal and termination in May 2026.

On August 22, 2025, she denied the defendants’ motion to stay the PI pending appeal. Those are the orders. They are not a criminal finding against the FTC or against anyone else.

Sources

Order granting preliminary injunction, Media Matters for America v. FTC, No. 1:25-cv-01959-SLS (D.D.C. Aug. 15, 2025) (ECF 35). CourtListener (PDF)

Memorandum opinion, same case (ECF 34). CourtListener (PDF)

PACER Monitor docket extract, 1:25-cv-01959. pacermonitor.com

Opinion

The following is commentary by this site. It is not a finding of fact and not a legal conclusion.

Compiler take

First big public injunction on this résumé: she stopped an FTC demand aimed at Media Matters. That is the order. Do not turn it into a secret plot. Do not skip it either. The same judge later wrote the SAVE vacatur.