AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A series of raids in Texas on the homes of Latino campaign volunteers has outraged civil rights groups who want federal action after officers seized electronics and documents as part of a state investigation into alleged election fraud.
No charges have been filed against those who had their homes searched this month around San Antonio.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office is leading the investigation, has said little beyond confirming that agents executed search warrants.
Here’s what to know: Why were the homes searched?
Paxton has said his office’s Election Integrity Unit began looking into the allegations after receiving a referral from a local prosecutor.
He said that the investigation involved “allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting” and that a two-year probe provided sufficient evidence to obtain a search warrant.
Medina told reporters that agents searched his home for several hours and seized numerous documents, computers and cellphones.
A Texas district judge has granted Medina a protective order to stop authorities from sifting through his records.
Texas’ pursuit of alleged election fraud In recent years the state has tightened voting laws and toughened penalties that Democrats and opponents say are attempts to suppress minority turnout.
He campaigned against judges who stripped his office of the power to prosecution election fraud without permission from local district attorneys.
AUSTIN, TX (AP) — Civil rights organizations are incensed about a string of raids on the homes of Latino campaign volunteers in Texas, and they want federal action after officers found computers and paperwork during a state investigation into possible election fraud.
Those who had their homes searched this month in the San Antonio area are not facing any charges. The raid targets—among them an 87-year-old volunteer for the campaign—as well as those who stand by them claim they did nothing wrong and that the searches were an attempt to intimidate Latino voters.
Other than confirming that agents carried out search warrants, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, which is spearheading the investigation, has not made many statements.
Knowing this is important.
For what reason were the residences examined?
According to Paxton, the Election Integrity Unit of his office started examining the claims following a recommendation from a local prosecutor.
He said that after two years of investigation, there was enough proof to get a search warrant and that the investigation included “allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting.”.
“Our republic’s cornerstone is secure elections,” Paxton declared last week in a statement. “When the District Attorney forwarded this case to my office for investigation, we were happy to help.
One of the country’s oldest civil rights organizations, the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, is connected to at least six persons whose homes were raided by agents last week. Among them were Manuel Medina, a political consultant from San Antonio, and Cecilia Castellano, a Democratic candidate for state House.
And what was taken away?
Reporters were shown numerous documents, computers, and cellphones that were taken by agents during a multi-hour search of Medina’s home. Castellano’s phone was also taken.
Teaching senior citizens how to cast their ballots, Lidia Martinez said that nine detectives searched her house for over two hours, taking her watch and smartphone.
According to Martinez, 87, she complained that seniors were not receiving their mail ballots, and that is why the officers told her they were there. Officials were instructed to seize any objects connected to the election by the search warrant.
Martinez stated at a press conference on Monday, “They sat me down and they started searching all my house, my store room, my garage, my kitchen, everything.”.
According to her statement, she was questioned by the officers concerning other members of LULAC, such as Medina.
Martinez declared, “I’m not doing anything illegal.”. “I just assist the elderly. “.
Next up, what?
The Justice Department has been asked to look into this by LULAC. CEO Juan Proaño stated on Wednesday that the organization has communicated with the department to prevent additional search warrants and may file both criminal and civil lawsuits against Paxton’s office.
In response to an email requesting comment, Justice Department spokespeople did not immediately reply.
Medina has been granted a protective order by a Texas district judge, which prevents authorities from going through his records. On the subject, a hearing is scheduled for September. Twelve.
Texas’ investigation into purported election fraud.
The state has increased voting restrictions and penalties in recent years, which Democrats and opponents claim are an attempt to reduce minority turnout. Republican legislators contest that claim and assert that the modifications are required safety measures.
Voter fraud cases are Paxton’s top priority, as evidenced by the state bar association’s scrutiny of his failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election on the grounds of false allegations of fraud. He ran his campaign against judges who had denied his office the authority to prosecute election fraud without the district attorneys’ consent.
A woman was found guilty of voter fraud and sentenced to five years in prison earlier this year, but she was on probation for a prior felony conviction and had no idea voting was against the law. The woman’s conviction was overturned by a state appeals court.
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