Democrats Demand DHS Secretary Mullin Follow – and Learn – Federal Law on Elections and Deploying to Polling Sites
“We are concerned that the Trump administration is weaponizing the Department against the people and democratic principles it was founded to protect.”
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led Committee Democrats in writing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding he follow, and learn, Federal law regarding Trump administration threats to deploy Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to polling sites – as well as reports that ICE plans to build a $5 million voter database and hundreds of DHS personnel have been reassigned to investigate noncitizen voting under the so-called “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” Committee Members previously wrote Secretary Mullin regarding election security matters on multiple occasions but were ignored.
“We believe the Trump administration’s motivations behind this reallocation of DHS resources have more to do with interfering with State election processes, suppressing voters, and sowing doubt in election outcomes than ensuring free and fair elections,” the Members wrote.
There has yet been no legal rationale provided by the Secretary or DHS for the deployment of Federal law enforcement to polling sites. When the Secretary and other DHS officials were asked about the potential deployment under oath before Congress, their answers did not comport with Federal law.
“Concerningly, neither you nor the officials who work for you appear to be familiar with Federal laws regarding the presence of law enforcement at polling places. Since your confirmation hearing, you have demonstrated a disturbing lack of awareness of relevant laws and policies on the matter,” the Members added.
“We are troubled that neither you nor leaders within the Department have familiarized yourselves with relevant laws before making public statements or developing plans or policies regarding the deployment of DHS law enforcement personnel this fall.”
The Members also demanded the Secretary comply with long-established Federal elections law, make clear to the public that DHS law enforcement will not be deployed to polling places, reestablish CISA’s election security funding, cease building a nationwide voter database Congress never authorized, and not weaponize the Department in pursuit of Trump’s political agenda.
“The activities DHS is pursuing under your leadership…are beyond what Congress has authorized and outside the limits of the law. You must cease these unlawful activities at once.”
This week, Ranking Member Thompson also sent a letter to Committee Chairman Garbarino demanding he hold a classified Member briefing with administration officials on security threats to the upcoming midterm elections. Unfortunately, no such briefing has been scheduled despite repeated requests.
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