SC asks judge to drop Craigslist lawsuit, says co. hasn’t proved he violated employees’ rights

SC AG asks judge to drop Craigslist lawsuit

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s attorney general has asked a federal judge to dismiss a complaint against him by Craigslist.

Attorney General Henry McMaster argues in papers filed Tuesday that the San Francisco-based company had not proven that he violated employees’ constitutional rights by threatening to prosecute prostitution-related ads.

In May, McMaster gave Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster a 10-day deadline to remove the ads from its South Carolina Web sites or face possible charges. The online advertising service eliminated its “erotic services” category, pledging to screen submissions to a new section.

Buckmaster then sued on grounds that the threats violated employees’ rights. Both sides later agreed McMaster would not prosecute the company while the lawsuit proceeds.