California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a multistate coalition in a letter requesting the United States Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) to investigate recent raids conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. These raids targeted Latino voting rights organizers, candidates for office, and community volunteers. The investigation aims to determine whether these actions constitute violations of civil rights, including the right to vote.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office carried out these raids under the pretext of addressing unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. Homes of Latino candidates and voting rights organizers were searched, and property was seized from elderly volunteers' residences. With early voting weeks away, these actions have caused confusion, fear, and suppressed voter turnout among minority voters.
“Using fear and baseless accusations to target people of color is unacceptable and un-American,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I am committed to upholding the civil rights of all Americans, particularly when it comes to the fundamental right to vote. Our democracy is strongest when everyone participates, and they must be able to do so free from fear and intimidation. My office stands ready to protect the rights of all voters.”
The letter highlights that there is minimal evidence of voter fraud in the United States and describes the raids as part of a "longstanding pattern" of using unfounded allegations to intimidate voters of color. It also notes that these actions come amid widespread attempts to lay groundwork for false claims about election fraud in upcoming elections.
Attorney General Bonta joins his counterparts from New York, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia in this call for an investigation.
A copy of the letter can be found here.