(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – October 11, 2018: The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) today praised a Congressional letter directed to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, urging that federal prosecutors dedicate resources to investigate and pursue noncitizens casting ballots. The letter was signed by 23 Members of Congress.
The letter, released this week, asks:
[W]e request that you thoroughly investigate all instances of foreign nationals, visa holders, refugees, and other noncitizens that are either included in voter databases or have been found to cast ballots in any election and prosecute those violations fully.
The letter marks particular concern for “sanctuary” cities and counties which “already refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities” and could tolerate “false claims of citizenship being made during voter registration.”
The letter references the Public Interest Legal Foundation’s August 2018 report, Safe Spaces: How Sanctuary Cities are Giving Cover to Noncitizens on the Voter Rolls, which documented over 3,100 instances of noncitizen registration in only 13 jurisdictions. The Foundation previously studied noncitizen voter participation in Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Virginia, and Philadelphia.
“The Foundation appreciates Rep. Mo Brooks’ leadership in Congress and his efforts to keep this matter on the minds of DOJ leadership,” PILF Communications and Research Director Logan Churchwell said. “We can’t overstate the deterrent power that prosecution carries here. The Foundation will be providing new investigative leads to U.S. Attorneys in the weeks ahead.”
The letter offers praise to Robert J. Higdon, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, for recent indictments against 19 noncitizens on federal voting charges. A foreign national can be charged for false claims of citizenship and alien voting.
Congressional signatories are: Mo Brooks (AL-05), Bradley Byrne (AL-01), Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Brian Babin (TX-36), Lou Barletta (PA-11), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Dave Brat (VA-07), Paul Cook (CA-08), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Jody Hice (GA-10), Walter Jones (NC-03), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Scott Perry (PA-04), Lamar Smith (TX-21), Daniel Webster (FL-11), and Ted Yoho (FL-03).
[10.9.2018] Letter to AG Se… by on Scribd
Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) is a 501(c)(3) public interest law firm dedicated to election integrity. The Foundation exists to assist states and others to aid the cause of election integrity and fight against lawlessness in American elections. Drawing on numerous experts in the field, the Foundation seeks to protect the right to vote and preserve the Constitutional framework of American elections.
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