Talking Points Memo: Local TX GOP Recruits Poll Watchers With Claim Of 'Voter Fraud' In Dem Areas
In response to the GOP email, J. Gerald Hebert, the director of the voting rights and redistricting project at the non-partisan, non-profit group, the Campaign Legal Center, sent a voter discrimination complaint to the Department of Justice on Friday calling for federal election monitors.
"Virtually every precinct in Tarrant County that is 'Democrat-controlled' is a majority-minority precinct," Hebert's complaint noted.
"The vote suppression efforts being made are cloaked in partisan rhetoric but are clearly targeted at Hispanic and African American voters in Tarrant County," the letter said, while noting other "inflammatory" language in the email, like "..buy, steal, and cheat their way to victory...”
The Department of Justice confirmed to TPM it had received the complaint and was reviewing it, but would not comment further.
Hebert, in an email to TPM, called it a "a very serious matter," while noting he also reached out to county officials about the GOP email.
"Intimidating voters for any reason violates federal law and we are prepared to take legal action, if necessary," Hebert said. "The County officials running the election have primary responsibility to make sure the election is being run in conformity with all provisions of state and federal law."
The Campaign Legal Center, also sent Tuesday night a complaint to the Tarrant County elections office. When reached by TPM, Tarrant County Elections Administrator Frank Phillips had not sent yet seen it. The complaints to the DOJ and to Tarrant County both also flagged an email sent last Wednesday by a county elections official that appeared to disseminate inaccurate information about the newly-softened voter ID law.