ST. LOUIS _ Phyllis Schlafly has died, but the battle for control over the conservative interest group she founded continues.
On Monday, the same day Schlafly died at the age of 92, a so-called "super PAC" was created in her name, Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle PAC.
A super PAC is a type of independent political action committee permitted to raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions and individuals but not allowed to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.
The establishment of the new super PAC was the latest maneuver in an ongoing battle for control of the Eagle Forum, the conservative interest group Schlafly founded in 1972.
Ed Martin, Eagle Forum's director and Schlafly's right-hand man, who has been in a battle with the board members for control over the group, said the super PAC's creation on the day she died was a coincidence.
"The super PAC has been in the works for a few months so that we have it ready for fall," he said in a text message. "Filing yesterday was coincidental. Not sure why counsel filed it on a holiday."
He had no comment on plans for the super PAC. There was no information public about how it was being funded. Martin said that Schlafly had not personally made a gift to it.
Earlier this year, Eagle Forum board members, including Schlafly's daughter, Anne Cori, filed suit in Madison County to have Martin removed as the group's director.
A judge ordered the group's management to remain intact while the suit progresses.
Those board members also filed suit Aug. 24 in U.S. District Court in Southern Illinois against a Virginia-based nonprofit group run by Martin, called Phyllis Schlafly's American Eagles.
The suit says the Virginia nonprofit group, using the address of Eagle Forum's headquarters in Alton, was a ploy to mislead Eagle Forum's membership and donor base.
The plaintiffs say they are Schlafly's longtime allies and friends who represent the Eagle Forum's mission and goals, and grew concerned about her isolation from them later in life.
Eric Solverud, a lawyer for the board members, said his clients did not know what Martin had planned for the new PAC.
"We don't know why it was done," he said. "We don't know what was intended to be accomplished. We certainly think the timing _ that it was the same day she passed away _ was very sad."
