Well, this is embarrassing.
The "constitutional expert" for an anti-Convention of States group called the John Birch Society just admitted he has no "particular credentials" to speak on Article V.
When testifying by Zoom in a South Dakota committee hearing recently, Robert Brown was asked about his credentials and background to testify on the subject of an Article V Convention of States.
Brown responded, “I don’t pretend to have any particular credentials other than that I have a very rare quality, in that I have the ability to read.”
He went on to explain that the "rare quality" of being able to read makes him more of an expert than all the nationally known and respected scholars who disagree with virtually everything he says about the history and future safety and efficacy of Article V.
We just have one question: isn't this the same Robert Brown that, in another committee hearing, billed himself as a "nationally known constitutional scholar and lecturer"?
Every nationally-known credentialed lawyer, peer-reviewed conservative constitutional scholar, and tenured professor who has spoken about the Convention of States Project has spoken in favor of the project and roundly debunked Robert Brown, a self-described “scholar” who admittedly has no credentials, other than his “ability to read.”
By contrast, here's a list of those who signed the "Jefferson Statement" in support of the Convention of States Project.
State legislators opposed to the Article V process outlined by the Framers have billed Brown as an "expert," which allows him to testify in out-of-state committee hearings. But by his own admission, he isn't an expert. He has no special knowledge of the Constitution and even less special knowledge of Article V.
It's time for state legislatures to end this farce. Charlatans like Brown have no place in the legislative processes in states around the country. If he wants to testify as a concerned citizen in the state where he resides, fine. But he should no longer be allowed to mislead the legislators and citizens of other states by pretending to be something he isn't.
To join a movement that is actually backed by legitimate constitutional experts, sign the Convention of States Petition below.
