More voter intimidation and suppression in Texas.
Aug 27, 2024 13:50:23 GMT
sideways, t2x, and 1 more like this
Post by Merge on Aug 27, 2024 13:50:23 GMT
www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-raids-latino-democrats-lulac-homes/
When will the DOJ do something about what's happening in Texas? We've waited more than long enough.
More pertinent info. Interesting timing - Paxton's expensive voter fraud investigations are reported to have turned up next to nothing, but suddenly has a "complaint" from a Trump-supporting Republican DA.
www.keranews.org/texas-news/2024-08-26/texas-ag-ken-paxton-announces-warrants-looking-for-voter-fraud-in-bexar-atascosa-and-frio-counties
LULAC officials told CBS News that some of the group's Texas members were targeted and had their laptops and cell phones confiscated by Texas authorities executing search warrants. Some of the raids focused on Latino activists across the state.
"Attorney General Paxton is using his position of authority to harass and intimidate Latino non-profit organizations like LULAC, Latino Leaders and LULAC members," Juan Proaño, LULAC's CEO told CBS News, calling the state AG's effort "point-blank" voter intimidation. "It is evident through his pattern of lawsuits, raids, searches, and seizures that he is trying to keep Latinos from voting."
Proaño said one of those targeted was Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old who lives in San Antonio. Martinez has been a LULAC member for over 35 years and works to expand voter registration among seniors and veterans in South Texas.
She said that last Tuesday, there was a knock on her door in the morning, and she was greeted by nine officers in tactical gear and firearms who said they were executing a search warrant. Martinez was questioned for over three hours about her voter registration efforts in Texas.
Law enforcement seized Martinez's phone, computer, personal calendar, blank voter registration forms and her certificate to conduct voter registration, according to Martinez.
"This is a free country, this is not Russia," Martinez said Monday during a press conference denouncing the raid.
Manuel Medina, the chair of Tejano Democrats, is another LULAC member who was targeted, LULAC's CEO said. Medina's home was raided last Thursday by police in riot gear, who were armed and broke down his door, according to LULAC officials.
"Attorney General Paxton is using his position of authority to harass and intimidate Latino non-profit organizations like LULAC, Latino Leaders and LULAC members," Juan Proaño, LULAC's CEO told CBS News, calling the state AG's effort "point-blank" voter intimidation. "It is evident through his pattern of lawsuits, raids, searches, and seizures that he is trying to keep Latinos from voting."
Proaño said one of those targeted was Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old who lives in San Antonio. Martinez has been a LULAC member for over 35 years and works to expand voter registration among seniors and veterans in South Texas.
She said that last Tuesday, there was a knock on her door in the morning, and she was greeted by nine officers in tactical gear and firearms who said they were executing a search warrant. Martinez was questioned for over three hours about her voter registration efforts in Texas.
Law enforcement seized Martinez's phone, computer, personal calendar, blank voter registration forms and her certificate to conduct voter registration, according to Martinez.
"This is a free country, this is not Russia," Martinez said Monday during a press conference denouncing the raid.
Manuel Medina, the chair of Tejano Democrats, is another LULAC member who was targeted, LULAC's CEO said. Medina's home was raided last Thursday by police in riot gear, who were armed and broke down his door, according to LULAC officials.
More pertinent info. Interesting timing - Paxton's expensive voter fraud investigations are reported to have turned up next to nothing, but suddenly has a "complaint" from a Trump-supporting Republican DA.
www.keranews.org/texas-news/2024-08-26/texas-ag-ken-paxton-announces-warrants-looking-for-voter-fraud-in-bexar-atascosa-and-frio-counties
The warrants in Bexar, Atascosa and Frio counties came a week after news stories brought to light the amount of money the AG has spent on his voter integrity unit with little to show for the expense.
In a press release, Paxton said he is looking into vote harvesting going back to the 2022 election. The complaint was filed with Paxton's office by Audrey Gossett Louis, a Republican district attorney for the 81st Judicial District.
The 81st District prosecutes cases in five counties including Atascosa and Frio. Louis is known as very conservative and has worked as an assistant district attorney in Bexar, Lubbock and other counties prior to her current elected post.
Last week the Houston Chronicle reported Paxton's voter integrity unit spent $3.3 million, closing six cases in two years.
Now people in three counties are being investigated, surprising even local elections officials.
"We have not been notified of this today,” said Jackie Callanan, Bexar County elections chief, who heard about the warrants from the press. “It seems to be an ongoing investigation, and, as always, our office will be here to assist in any way we can if we're asked," she added.
Numerous studies of elections have found “vanishingly little” evidence of mass voter fraud.
“Ken Paxton’s office has invested enormous resources looking for fraud where it does not occur and has basically found nothing,” said Sean Morales Doyle, director of the voting rights program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
In a press release, Paxton said he is looking into vote harvesting going back to the 2022 election. The complaint was filed with Paxton's office by Audrey Gossett Louis, a Republican district attorney for the 81st Judicial District.
The 81st District prosecutes cases in five counties including Atascosa and Frio. Louis is known as very conservative and has worked as an assistant district attorney in Bexar, Lubbock and other counties prior to her current elected post.
Last week the Houston Chronicle reported Paxton's voter integrity unit spent $3.3 million, closing six cases in two years.
Now people in three counties are being investigated, surprising even local elections officials.
"We have not been notified of this today,” said Jackie Callanan, Bexar County elections chief, who heard about the warrants from the press. “It seems to be an ongoing investigation, and, as always, our office will be here to assist in any way we can if we're asked," she added.
Numerous studies of elections have found “vanishingly little” evidence of mass voter fraud.
“Ken Paxton’s office has invested enormous resources looking for fraud where it does not occur and has basically found nothing,” said Sean Morales Doyle, director of the voting rights program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
