As I reported yesterday, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee Elijah Cummings is using intimidation and bully tactics to threaten voter integrity group True the Vote. As I also mentioned, he isn't alone in his attacks.
On October 10, AFL-CIO Florida attorney Alma Gonzales sent a letter to local True the Vote leader, private citizen and volunteer Kimberly Kelly, threatening legal action should the group continue their efforts to get voter rolls cleaned up and to train poll watchers for Election Day. Gonzales also accused the group of violating the rights of voters.
"According to press reports, True the Vote plans to train poll watchers who may challenge voters at polls. Please be informed that federal law prohibits all forms of intimidation, threats and coercion with-respect to individuals exercising their rights to vote. The Voting Rights Act makes voter intimidation, coercion, and threats that interfre with the right to vote criminal offenses punishable by fines and up to one year in prison. In addition, under Florida Stat. 104.0615 it is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine to 'directly or indirectly use or threaten to use force, violence, or intimidation or any tactice of coercion or intimidation to induce or compel an individual to vote or refrain from voting.' Organizations seeking to protect individuals exercising their Constitutional rights to vote will be on hand at polling places on Election Day. Poll watchers, poll monitors and attorneys will be on site to educate individuals of their legal rights to vote and collect information if improper challenges are filed of if individuals feel threatened or intimidated. Information regarding such conduct will be submitted to authorities immediatly," Gonzales wrote in the letter.
Gonzales failed to disclose her position as treasurer for the Florida Democratic Party and her high ranking position in the national Democratic Party.
On October 17, attorney Judith Scott of the SEUI sent a letter to the IRS demanding True the Vote be stripped of its tax exempt status, claiming the group "attempts to influence political campaigns and engages in excessive lobbying."
In September, a letter was sent on behalf of far left groups by progressive attorneys threatened legal action against True the Vote should they continue submitting requests for voter roll cleanups prior to the November 6, 2012 election.
It is ironic labor groups like the SEIU and AFL-CIO would be commenting on voter intimidation, after all, both support card-check in union elections and intimidate members into voting for Democratic candidates every day. True the Vote doesn't lobby for political parties and has people like former Democrat Artur Davis, Democrat Pat Caddell, Republican John Fund and others, speak at their summits.
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