Jones Eagle, a cryptominer formerly known as Jones Digital, filed a federal lawsuit against the state on November 13, 2024, alleging that the state’s actions violated the company’s constitutional rights.
Background
The lawsuit followed Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward’s requests for the attorney general’s office to investigate Jones Eagle, which is suspected of having significant ties to China. The company claims that two recent state measures targeting foreign party-controlled businesses, one barring those businesses from owning agricultural land and the other prohibiting them from owning digital mining operations, violate the Constitution’s due process, equal protection, commerce, and takings clauses.
Chief U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker issued a preliminary injunction on December 9, 2024, preventing the state from enforcing the two laws against Jones Eagle while the matter is under litigation. Lawyers for Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office appealed Baker’s ruling to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard oral arguments in January but has yet to rule on the matter.
Jones Eagle has filed two motions for sanctions against Griffin’s office, accusing the attorneys of dragging their feet on discovery production of documents well past the deadlines imposed by Baker. A bench trial was canceled due to a pending, unrelated criminal trial and has not yet been rescheduled.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
