The campaign of U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) issued a cease-and-desist to Mobile-based outlet Lagniappe after it published financial details extracted from an unredacted barcode on the senator’s tax returns.

Tuberville’s campaign submitted partially redacted Alabama income tax returns from 2018 to 2024 as part of its response to a residency challenge filed by primary opponent Ken McFeeters. Those documents were shared with McFeeters and the Alabama Republican Party’s Candidate Committee ahead of a June 14 hearing on the challenge. McFeeters then shared the documents with multiple news outlets.

Lagniappe reported that a PDF417 barcode on the tax forms, which the campaign did not redact, contained detailed financial information. The outlet said it did not publish Social Security numbers or driver’s license information.

In a cease-and-desist letter sent to Lagniappe co-publishers Rob Holbert and Ashley Trice, Tuberville attorney Albert L. Jordan said the information was never intended for publication and that accessing the barcode data was unauthorized.

“Your June 5 publication of the improperly accessed data falsely reports that the Tuberville campaign ‘exposed the sitting U.S. Senator’s . . . income details,’ and falsely implies that the Tuberville campaign ‘volunteered’ the information to you,” Jordan wrote.

The letter demanded that Lagniappe remove its articles, identify all individuals who accessed the information, and preserve all evidence. It argued the publication violated federal law, state privacy law, and multiple civil tort doctrines and was not protected by the First Amendment.

Lagniappe removed its paywall on the full cease-and-desist letter and said it stands by its reporting.

Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].