New York's ethics board has notified four advocacy groups that it won't shield their financial backers from public disclosure, citing insufficient evidence that revealing their names is likely to result in threats or even harm to those supporters.
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics in January rejected disclosure exemptions for Family Planning Advocates and New York Women's Equality Coalition, which back abortion rights.
The panel also rejected requests from New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes abortion and gay marriage, and the New York Civil Liberties Union, which advocates for free speech and other individual rights.
The letters, sent Friday over the names of six commissioners, are subject to appeal within 15 business days.
The letters to the NYCLU and abortion-rights groups also contain statements by three board members disagreeing.
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