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Supporting Terrorism

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Humanitarian Law Project v. U.S. Treasury Dept., USCA 9, No. 07-55893, today:

We are asked to invalidate the President's authority to designate terrorist organizations when there is an extraordinary threat to national security, as well as the Secretary of the Treasury's authorization to designate further organizations; and to declare that a ban on providing "services" to, or for the benefit of, such organizations, is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.

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We agree with the district court that the Humanitarian Law Project lacks standing to challenge the President's designation authority because HLP has never been designated, or threatened with designation, on account of it. We disagree with HLP's contention that self-censorship suffices for injury-in-fact because IEEPA on its face does not regulate speech, but conduct. Therefore, the standing requirements for preenforcement challenges set out in Thomas v. Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, 220 F.3d 1134 (9th Cir. 2000), apply. We conclude that HLP likewise cannot show injury-in-fact with respect to the licensing regulations as it has never applied for, or been denied, a license. We also agree with the district court that the Secretary's authority to designate terrorist groups is adequately constrained by  criteria in the Executive Order. Similarly, the ban on "services" to designated organizations is not unconstitutionally vague; "services" are clearly enough delineated by examples in the regulations for a person of ordinary intelligence to understand what kind of activities are not permitted. HLP worries that protected speech such as independent advocacy may be caught in the net, but the Secretary does not interpret the ban this way, nor do we. Finally, we hold that no mens rea is required for IEEPA's civil provisions, and its criminal provisions raise no constitutional concerns as they include willfulness, or knowledge of unlawfulness, as an element. Accordingly, we affirm.

Opinion by Judge Rymer with District Judge Korman concurring. Judge Pregerson dissents.

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