A deposition given for Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's ongoing defamation trial has revealed the Aquaman star did not fulfil her pledge to donate $3.5 million to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The claim came from Terence Dougherty, the chief operating officer and general counsel of the ACLU, who appeared before the court today (28 April) in a pre-recorded deposition filmed in December of last year.
Dougherty told the court Heard had been put forward as an ambassador for the ACLU as a result of her pledge to provide a donation of $3.5 million to the charity, which works to 'protect people's rights' and 'defend democracy'.
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The pledge came after Heard divorced Depp in 2016, at which point she said she would divide her $7 million settlement between the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
“Ms Heard spoke with such clarity and expertise on issues of gender-based violence, that [ACLU representatives] decided she would be an appropriate person to ask to become an ACLU ambassador,” Dougherty said during the deposition.
Dougherty noted, however, that the full amount pledged by Heard had not been sent at the time he gave the deposition.
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The COO said that in the wake of the pledge the ACLU received $350,000 directly from Heard, $100,000 paid through Depp, $500,000 paid through a donor-advised fund and a further $350,000 also paid through a donor-advised fund, amounting to a total of $1.3 million.
When Depp sent a portion of the donation on behalf of Heard, the ACLU held onto the cheque while waiting for confirmation the amount should be added to Heard's total pledge, the court heard.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was connected to the donor-advised fund that contributed $850,000 to ACLU on behalf of Heard, and Dougherty told the court that based on an email from Musk it was believed the $3.5m would be paid to the charity over the course of ten years, though the plan was never confirmed.
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The court was shown documents including a thank you note to Heard for her pledge, as well as a pledge form and a schedule regarding the donation. The schedule was not signed by Heard but other documents indicate she was aware of the 10-year commitment, The Independent reports.
The ACLU did not issue a press release announcing the $3.5m pledge as Heard had sent an email saying there was no need to do so.
Featured Image Credit: Law & CrimeTopics: Johnny Depp, Celebrity, US News
