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ACLU slammed for billing Johnny Depp $86,253.26 for 'trouble' it took to comply with SUBPOENA!

ACLU claims that they had to skim through 7,500 documents and turn over 2,000 documents to Depp to comply with the subpoena

The Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial has taken a different turn all over again, courtesy of the ACLU. When Depp moved the court to order ACLU to hand over the proof regarding Amber Heard's donation, things didn't sit well with the Union. After Depp's motion was granted, the American Civil Liberties Union refused to hand over the documents pertaining to the case voluntarily. Now, the Union has demanded a whopping $86,253.26 as reimbursement for the time taken to prepare and submit the documents. 

In the court paper 57, Depp "respectfully requested" that the "Court enter an order directing the ACLU witness to fully comply with the Subpoenas." Previously, he was seeking these documents for the $50 million defamation suit that he filed against his ex-wife Amber Heard which is currently in deliberation. The 58-year-old actor had claimed that the 'Aquaman' actress did not donate the money from the divorce settlement, which she promised to split into two charities - ACLU and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. 

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Heard claimed that the money would be donated by 2018. However, a rep from the ACLU took the stand and revealed under oath that the 35-year-old actress had only paid $1.3 million of the promised $3.5 million. The rep went so far as to disclose the sources of the donations. ACLU received $350k from Heard, $100k from Depp for Heard, $500k from a donor-advised fund, and another $500k from a separate donor-advised fund. The rep even brought the name of the billionaire mogul Elon Musk into the conversation and claimed that it could be him who made the $500k payment. 

Where's the money?

Amber Heard said that she had every intention to pay the pledged amount but couldn't because Depp kept dragging her back to court, which resulted in gigantic legal bills. ACLU was also present as a helping hand for Heard when she drafted her 2018 Washington Post op-ed which provoked Depp to take the legal route. This could be another reason why the actor was adamant about bringing the charity to court. 

In the newly filed motion, the ACLU seeks reimbursement for the considerable expenses incurred while responding to the onerous subpoenas served by Depp, especially since neither the ACLU nor any of its employees are parties to the dispute. ACLU also claims that they had to skim through 7,500 documents and turn over 2,000 documents to Depp to comply with the subpoena. The Union added that it produced three witnesses, including its Executive Director, for over 16 hours of deposition and that Depp did not compromise in any way to reduce the burden or expense for the ACLU or its employees. It argued that Depp cannot give them their time back but can always reimburse them for it.

And now, the Internet has reacted. One user said, "Why don't they seem reasonable? Please break down the costs for us so we can understand." Another user said. "Where the hell did that amount come from!? Jesus Joseph & Mary! Everyone just wants his money!! Freaking ridiculous!!"

Some questioned the credibility of the ACLU, tweeting, "Everything ACLU had to do with this case has to make one rethink what they really stand for & are they worth it." One user wrote, "If that is how the ACLU treats Victims then they don't deserve to have any!" Meanwhile, the jury is yet to deliver the final verdict and the world is waiting for the outcome of the sensational trial.