Balance of Nature CEO recounts DOJ consent-decree fight, promotes civics classes and Liberty Village project

Lex Howard, CEO of Balance of Nature and chairman of United We Pledge, told a Washington County Republican Women''s Club dinner that his company faced a U.S. Department of Justice consent-decree process that produced lengthy, expensive litigation and that he is now focusing on civic education and local projects.

Howard said the company responded to about 40 to 48 DOJ allegations and that attorneys ultimately rejected the claims. "We knocked off every single one of them," he said. He described retaining high-cost counsel and paying "millions and millions, tens of millions of dollars just in attorney fees" during the process.

The significance, Howard said, is not only for his company but for civic life. He described two community efforts he is promoting: Liberty Village, a heritage-style development he said he is building in Southern Utah, and United We Pledge, a charity he said grew from personal stories he heard while traveling. "Liberty Village is gonna be a phenomenal place," he said.

Howard also urged civic engagement beyond voting and promoted a free civics course run by the Center for Self Governance. "Come to CSG," he said, offering a phone contact for people who wanted more information: (435) 862-7505. He said the course teaches constitutional structure and how citizens can influence policy by writing proposals and working with elected officials.

On the subject of Jan. 6, Howard said he attended the Capitol events and described his experience as "a phenomenal experience" but added that he objected to the way media and others characterized participants afterward. He recounted his view that many attendees were peaceful, that security initially allowed some access, and that he and other attendees later faced public criticism. "When I left and I turned on the television, they were calling me a domestic terrorist," he said.

Howard said his company's marketing history on conservative radio and Fox News drew scrutiny after Jan. 6. He said media groups leveled false claims to the Food and Drug Administration that led to the DOJ review, and that he was advised by elected officials to hire top attorneys to respond. He described a negotiation moment in which he felt pressured to sign an agreement to avoid immediate litigation and said he signed to prevent the company from being shut down.

Audience members asked about legal details and the DOJ process; Howard said his legal team worked through each allegation and that the company reached a position in which the government acknowledged many claims were wrong. He credited attorneys and sympathetic members of Congress with intervening during the legal fight.

Howard closed by repeating his appeal for civic participation and by inviting attendees to the civics classes he supports. "If you want to understand American civics, come to CSG," he said. He also described Liberty Village and United We Pledge as places to teach and practice civic habits in the community.

Background: Howard introduced personal history including childhood in Saint Petersburg, Russia, his family's role in founding Balance of Nature, and the company's evolution into a national advertiser. He said Balance of Nature currently employs about 400 people, down from about 600 at an earlier time, and that the legal battles imposed substantial costs on the business.

No formal action was taken at the dinner; Howard delivered remarks and answered questions during a public program portion of the meeting.