DeSantis’ election crimes arrests confuse some suspects

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, was given a voter registration card and cast a ballot in the 2020 Election, court records show. In another video, Nathan Hart, convicted of a felony molestation charge in 2006, told officers that someone at the “driver’s license place” encouraged him to register to vote. “‘If they don’t, then you can’t.’” An officer arresting Hart replied, “Then there’s your defense,” adding “that sounds like a loophole to me.” In the third video obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, Tony Patterson expressed continued confusion over why he was being arrested, telling officers “I thought felons were able to vote.” “Why would you let me vote if I wasn’t able to vote,” he said. In October 2019, he completed a voter registration form affirming that “I am not a convicted felon, and if I am, my right to vote has been restored.” Patterson told law enforcement, according to an affidavit on the voter fraud charges, that he received a mail ballot and letter in the mail stating he was eligible to vote.