DeSantis’ election police unit announces voter fraud cases
2 years, 4 months ago

DeSantis’ election police unit announces voter fraud cases

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced criminal charges against 20 people for illegally voting in 2020, the first major public move from the Republican’s controversial new election police unit. “That is against the law and now they’re gonna pay the price for it.” DeSantis, an ascendant Republican and potential 2024 presidential candidate, pushed the state legislature to create the election police unit to address voter fraud concerns that have proliferated in the GOP following former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen. Peter Antonacci, a former Broward County Supervisor of Elections tapped by DeSantis to lead the election police unit, said more voter fraud charges were coming. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat running for governor, said DeSantis’ announcement was meant “to intimidate voters and suppress turnout in the most Democratic counties in Florida.” “Everybody wants elections to be secure, but Ron DeSantis — who has never refuted Donald Trump’s Big Lie— is the last person we can trust with ‘election police,’” she said.

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History of this topic

3rd case brought by DeSantis’ election police dismissed
2 years ago

3rd case brought by DeSantis’ election police dismissed

Associated Press  

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A third case of a defendant who was arrested by an elections police unit created by Florida Gov. Terry Hubbard, 63, was among 20 people arrested last August on criminal charges of illegal voting in 2020 in what was the first major action taken by the the Republican’s controversial new Office of Election Crimes and Security. …

New state voter fraud units finding few cases from midterms
2 years ago

New state voter fraud units finding few cases from midterms

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — State-level law enforcement units created after the 2020 presidential election to investigate voter fraud are looking into scattered complaints more than two weeks after the midterms but have provided no indication of systemic problems. “I am not aware of any significant detection of fraud on Election Day, but that’s not surprising,” said Paul Smith, senior vice president of …

Election fraud case against Florida defendant dismissed
2 years, 2 months ago

Election fraud case against Florida defendant dismissed

Associated Press  

One of the 20 people arrested with fanfare under an election fraud program launched by Florida Gov. Those arrested had voted in 2020, the first major elections since a state constitutional amendment allowed many felons to have voting rights automatically restored, except for those convicted of murder and felony sexual assault or those who still owe fines or restitution. Court …

Florida man becomes first to escape charges resulting from DeSantis’ election fraud raid
2 years, 2 months ago

Florida man becomes first to escape charges resulting from DeSantis’ election fraud raid

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A court dropped on Florida man’s election fraud charges, making …

DeSantis’ election crimes arrests confuse some suspects
2 years, 2 months ago

DeSantis’ election crimes arrests confuse some suspects

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Newly released police bodycam footage shows that three of the 20 people who were arrested in Florida for allegedly voting illegally in the 2020 election appeared to be surprised that they had done anything wrong. “I voted, but I ain’t commit no fraud.” Oliver was convicted of second-degree murder in December 2000, but eventually registered to vote, …

Video shows Florida cops 'almost apologetic' while arresting man in DeSantis' 'voter fraud' crackdown
2 years, 2 months ago

Video shows Florida cops 'almost apologetic' while arresting man in DeSantis' 'voter fraud' crackdown

Raw Story  

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Timesreleased body camera footage of local police carrying out one of the well-publicized arrests Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered for "illegal" voting — and police themselves appearing unsure and "almost apologetic" as they explained to one voter, Tony Patterson, that he was under arrest. The crackdown, part of DeSantis' initiative to guarantee "election integrity" as the …

DeSantis elections chief told local officials they'd bear 'no fault' for illegal voter registration: report
2 years, 3 months ago

DeSantis elections chief told local officials they'd bear 'no fault' for illegal voter registration: report

Raw Story  

On Monday, POLITICO reported that the top elections investigator for Gov. Ron DeSantis told local officials they bear "no fault" for the 20 ex-convicts who were improperly signed up to vote — even though DeSantis has publicly tried to pass the blame onto them. "Pete Antonacci, who runs DeSantis’ elections investigation office, sent a letter on Aug. 18 to the …

Florida governor signs bill creating election police unit
2 years, 7 months ago

Florida governor signs bill creating election police unit

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday to create a police force dedicated to pursuing voter fraud and other election crimes, embracing a top priority of Republicans after former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen. The new law comes after the Republican governor made voting legislation a focus this year, pushing the …

Florida lawmakers back the creation of an election crimes investigative office
2 years, 9 months ago

Florida lawmakers back the creation of an election crimes investigative office

NPR  

Florida lawmakers back the creation of an election crimes investigative office Enlarge this image toggle caption John Raoux/AP John Raoux/AP Florida lawmakers have sent to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis legislation that would create a dedicated investigative unit for alleged election crimes, part of a broader bill that would, for the second year in a row, enact new voting restrictions in …

DeSantis election police force panned as ‘a door prize for a QAnon pep rally’
2 years, 11 months ago

DeSantis election police force panned as ‘a door prize for a QAnon pep rally’

Raw Story  

Efforts by Florida Gov. '” Jonathan Diaz, a voting rights lawyer at the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, questioned the need for such a police force. “There’s a reason that there’s no office of this size with this kind of unlimited investigative authority in any other state in the country, and it’s because election crimes and voter fraud are just not …

Florida governor calls for election police force
3 years, 1 month ago

Florida governor calls for election police force

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Citing unspecified examples of election fraud, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday pledged to create a law enforcement agency to investigate election crimes as part of a new package of voting laws. Speaking at an event in West Palm Beach, the Republican governor announced a series of election law proposals for lawmakers to take up during next …

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