Tuesday, July 29

DOJ said to plan to ask all 50 states for voter data The DOJ has said it intends to contact all 50 states about their compliance with federal voting law, a national association of state election officials told Democracy Docket.  Numerous states already have received letters asking for sensitive voter data as the Trump administration hunts for illegal voting. Maine Sec. of State to Trump DOJ: ‘Go jump in the Gulf of Maine’ Maine is the latest state to be a target of DOJ’s demand for voter data, Democracy Docket reported. The move is part of the department’s radical anti-voting shift from defending voting rights to hunting for voter fraud. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) told Trump’s DOJ to “go jump in the Gulf of Maine” to “cool down” in a defiant response.

Our fearless reporting uncovered major DOJ developments that impact voters everywhere. Support journalism that holds those in power accountable and keeps you informed. Join today to fuel more exclusive stories, legal analysis and live events.

SUPPORT OUR NEWSROOM

And New Hampshire defies DOJ push for voter data New Hampshire firmly rejected the DOJ’s demand for its full statewide voter roll, citing state law, cybersecurity and voter privacy. New Hampshire joins Minnesota, Wisconsin, and now Maine in resisting the DOJ’s push to obtain state voter rolls. Assault on judiciary escalated with misconduct complaint against judge Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a misconduct complaint against Judge James Boasberg, the judge overseeing high-profile lawsuits against the Trump administration, escalating Trump’s ongoing assault on the judiciary. Texas could subpoena Harmeet Dhillon on redistricting letter Texas officials could subpoena Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon to answer questions about her letter urging the state to redraw its congressional map, after relentless calls from Democrats who want her to explain her demand. Meanwhile, the chair of the Senate committee handling redistricting has become the latest Texas official to admit he disagrees with the letter’s claim that Texas’ current map is unconstitutional. The state has cited that claim to justify its redistricting. GOP quickly moves to expand anti-voting rights ruling Only a day after a federal appeals court ruled that voters in seven states can no longer enforce a key voting rights protection, the Republican National Committee (RNC) moved to spread that decision further. In a court filing, the RNC urged the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to adopt the same extreme interpretation of the Voting Rights Act that the Eighth Circuit did. That ruling stripped away private enforcement of Section 208, a critical protection for voters with disabilities.  Coming up tomorrow A hearing is scheduled in Judicial Watch's lawsuit arguing that Illinois' state board of elections has failed to maintain its voter rolls. Judicial Watch, a right-wing organization, is also seeking access to list maintenance records. The DOJ recently filed a statement of interest in this case.