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Voting-Rights Group Calls For Federal Probe Of New Mexico Voter Intimidation
A major voting-rights group has sent a letter to New Mexico U.S. Attorney Gregory Fouratt, calling on him to investigate claims of voter intimidation and suppression.
The letter, from the group Project Vote, comes in the wake of reporting by TPMmuckraker and others about a private investigator -- who said he was working for Pat Rogers, a lawyer connected to the state GOP -- appearing at the homes of Hispanic voters in Albuquerque, and questioning them about their right to vote. In a press release announcing the letter, Project Vote refers directly to these reports.
In its letter, Project Vote -- a non-profit voting-rights group that works to increase voting in low-income and minority communities -- writes:
This form of intimidation and suppression is in direct violation of Section 12 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as Section 2. We feel that the right of all Americans to vote is of the utmost importance, and if there is credible evidence of voter intimidation and suppression of a particular class of voters it should be addressed and promptly persecuted.
Fouratt was appointed U.S. Attorney for the district after the 2006 firing of David Iglesias. According to a recent DOJ report, Iglesias was removed for his failure to prosecute voter fraud cases he believed to be bogus.
Josh
Zachary
I'm sure the DOJ will get right on this. Sounds like a job for Hans and Brad.
October 24, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DOJ is not the only option. There are state laws which apply.
October 24, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to see the GOP so earnestly seeking to ensure the right to vote of the citizenry across the country. Funny how his pending death made Lee Atwater see the light. The rest of these neanderthals proceed with the insouciance of ignorant youth (or the unabashed arrogance of the single issue conservative). Meanwhile the flames of hell await their arrival.
October 26, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think the GOP actually assumes there's a "God" or a "Satan" or a "Hell". They are simply lawless and intellectually dishonest sociopaths who are masters of the prolitics of religioterrorism against the gullible.
October 26, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
In 2000 and 2004 as author Greg Pallast pointed out, in many areas of New Mexico, only one in ten native Americans voted for president when they reached the polls. Hmmm? That does not sound right does it.
And before Governor Richardson insisted we go back to the paper ballot there were far too many cases of voting machines switching votes. And oddly, always from Kerry to Bush. Something fishy, eh?
You can be sure that whenever the republicans are indignant and pointing the finger over some issue like voter fraud it is a clear sign that they are up to exactly the same.
I hope all of these slimebags are out of a job and out on the street on November 5th.
October 26, 2008 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
As pointed out by the New Mexico Independent, the only licensed private investigator in New Mexico named Al Romero is Alfredo Romero who was licensed in July 2007.
In 1998, a federal prisoner, Barton Lee Murphy, filed a lawsuit against Special Agent Alfredo Romero in connection with the search and seizure of his property during a drug bust. The case was thrown out of court on appeal. (See Tenth Circuit No. 98-2035)
If Al Romero, Voter Intimidation Goon, is former Special Agent Alfredo Romero, he surely knows that what he is doing is wrong, given his former line of work.
Maybe Barton Murphy had a legit case after all.
October 26, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fuler details: In what context was he a "Special Agent"?
October 26, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
??? I think all FBI agents are called special agents. The decision refers to Alfredo Romero, Special Agent, Federal Burueau of Investigaton and five other Jane or John Doe, five unknown agents.
October 26, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I thought that the Only way that the neocons would twist the votes was by Diebold Machines. Well, they think that if their cheating method by Diebold was discovered and stopped then they better have a backup; just in case. That way is a very underhanded way. Boy, if I voted, No One would intimatate me in doing this one Important thing - picking the Leader of my Country. But as it is I live in Canada and my roommate went to vote last year(2007) and after he voted he was talking to a man employee person there about the Diebold machines and he was told to leave the building!
So thats what else there doing. Going to minorities and intimadating them! Who knows what other things there doing. One needs to know. Maybe put ads out in different ways or distribute leaflets to warn people that they may be intimidated by these goons.
October 27, 2008 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink