DOJ makes rare step of weighing in on court case involving armed Arizona groups ‘monitoring’ ballot boxes – warning the vigilantes they will likely be arrested despite federal judge ruling groups CAN camp outside local drop boxes
The Justice Department on Monday issued a ‘statement of interest’ in an Arizona lawsuit concerning armed vigilantes patrolling voter drop box sites
The DOJ did not issue a ruling, but instead said that the allegations made by the League of Women Voters ‘raise serious concerns of voter intimidation’
The League took action after images in mid-October showed groups of people in tactical gear surrounding a drop box in Mesa, Arizona
On Friday a federal judge said that the actions were concerning, but there was not yet sufficient evidence of intimidation
The Justice Department has waded into the legal row over armed vigilantes ‘monitoring’ voting drop boxes in Arizona – expressing concern about the situation, but stopping short of issuing any orders.
The officials on Monday issued a ‘statement of interest’ in a court case filed in response to armed men patrolling voting sites near Phoenix.
The League of Women Voters of Arizona is attempting to prevent Lions of Liberty and other right-wing groups from organizing what they term ‘monitoring’ of drop boxes.
On Friday, a federal judge refused to ban the Lions of Liberty’s patrols, saying there was a legitimate concern but not enough evidence to show that anyone’s rights were being curtailed.
On Monday, the DOJ said that the allegations made by the League ‘raise serious concerns of voter intimidation.’