INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Republican Attorney General, Curtis Hill, has joined in the fight with other GOP leaders against the state of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, alleging they acted unconstitutionally.
WFYI: Indiana attorney general joins push to challenge Pennsylvania mail-in ballots
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) November 11, 2020
The State of Pennsylvania has been under intense scrutiny from Republicans, after they had moved the acceptance date for mail in ballots for the state prior to the general election.
Before, ballots had to be received by election day in order to be counted. However, state leaders wanted to give people the option of mailing their ballots on election day, despite having weeks to do so beforehand.
The move was challenged by Pennsylvania Republicans who initially won the case in the lower courts. However, state leaders appealed the case to the State Supreme Court, which overruled the lower courts decision, allowing the deadline to be extended.
NEW — Indiana AG Curtis Hill Joins GOP Case Against Pennsylvania Supreme Court https://t.co/RP7qnwDPRQ
— Kyle Morris (@RealKyleMorris) November 11, 2020
Pennsylvania Republicans appealed the case to the Supreme Court which refused to hear it, stating there was not enough time to review all arguments, since it was too close to the general election.
This refusal to hear the case resulted in the State Supreme Court’s ruling to stand, at least for now.
Now, Hill has joined in with other Republicans in filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court, siding with Republicans in the State of Pennsylvania, claiming that the State Supreme Court did not have the authority to overturn the lower court’s decision.
Hill said:
“When we see courts in other states cross the line and take over that process and the potential impact that may have on the wishes of Indiana voters, we believe it is appropriate to take action.”
The reason that Hill is filing the brief, since the case occurred out of state, is to ensure that those legal decisions do not happen in his state.
He is essentially not only putting his own state on notice that moves like this will not be tolerated, he is also hoping that the Supreme Court will set precedent which will prevent other state courts from making the same move, if the ruling goes the way he thinks it will.
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court arguing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overstepped its authority.
➡️ @BrockEWTurner https://t.co/UWmmsIwzoC
— WTIU News (@wtiunews) November 11, 2020
Indiana is not the only state that is joining the fight with Republicans from Pennsylvania. Other states, including Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Oklahoma have also filed claims with the Supreme Court.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, spoke at a virtual press conference with Missouri Attorney Eric Schmitt, and Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, on November 9th.
He said:
“We have constantly reminded the American people that we represent and stand up for the rule of law. As such, we believe the voting system should be free of outside, undue influence.”
In their brief to the Supreme Court, they list two main questions of contention:
“Whether the Pennsylvania Supreme Court majority usurped the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s plenary authority to “direct [the] Manner” for appointing electors for President and Vice President…and broad power to prescribe “[t]he Times, Places, and Manner” for congressional elections.”
And:
“Whether the majority’s extension and presumption are preempted by federal statutes that establish a uniform nationwide for Election Day.”
It remains to be seen how the court will rule when, and if, they decide to hear the case. Republicans are confident that they are correct, and that they will win their arguments. If they do, there is a likelihood that any votes that were accepted in Pennsylvania after election day will be considered null and void.
If that does happen, it is unclear if there would be enough votes that would be thrown out, to make a difference in who is declared the victor when the votes are certified next month.
Rep. Steve Scalise warns election laws and procedures were not followed, says huge legal battles are ahead
November 10, 2020
WASHINGTON D.C. – The House Minority whip has voiced his concerns over election laws and procedures not being followed during the presidential election.
House Minority whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) made an appearance Sunday on “Fox & Friends Weekend”. Rep. Scalise shared his reaction to the President Trump campaign’s legal battles over the 2020 presidential election results.
The election isn’t over until all legal votes are counted and certified. There are still serious legal challenges that have been made, and until that process is resolved, the election is not final.
The American people deserve a fair and transparent process.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) November 7, 2020
Scalise shared his concerns that some election laws and procedures were not followed on election night. Among his concerns were key states not allowing poll watchers to observe the ballot counting, counting ballots after 8 p.m., and having deceased voters cast votes in this election.
A point was made leading into the Scalise interview by Fox News co-anchor Pete Hegseth:
“Earlier we had on here Governor Mike Huckabee who pointed out, which is simply a fact, that it’s not media and news organizations who validate presidencies. Ultimately it’s voters and electors who do.”
Every single American citizen should be demanding all of this:
– Transparency
– Count all legal votes
– Do not count any illegal votes
– Observation of ballot sorting and counting by both parties
– Election laws enforced as writtenRepublicans won’t quit fighting.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) November 6, 2020
Rep. Scalise responded to Hegseth:
“We’re really at the beginning of the legal side of this. Of course, you had election night Tuesday night.
“Then you had some states still counting, some very questionable things happen, especially when you look at many states that have the laws that allow a poll watcher to watch the counting.
“It’s part of the transparency process that’s a law in most states. That was not being followed. They were not allowing Trump’s poll watchers to watch what was going on.
“And, you know, what are you doing behind closed doors where you’re afraid to let other people watch you when the law says you have to?”
America Won’t Trust Elections Until The Voter Fraud Is Investigated https://t.co/SGRZ6xF8xl
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 9, 2020
He went on:
“Clearly, the Pennsylvania law, which is clear after 8 p.m. on Tuesday night, ballots can’t be counted, yet they were counting those ballots. The Supreme Court said you have to keep them separate.
“There were questions of whether or not they separated all of those ballots, and the secretary of state has yet to set how many they are. She’ll say, ‘Well, we don’t think it’s enough to be outside the margin.’
“Well, then how many is it? Why aren’t they transparent about these things? These are laws on states’ books that aren’t being followed.”
When speaking of the separated ballots, Rep. Scalise is referring to a decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court ordering Pennsylvania counties to segregate all ballots arriving after Election Day. The order came after Pennsylvania Republicans filed an appeal to segregate any ballots arriving after 5 p.m.
Some believe that Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar (D) had overstepped her role when she issued a series of last-minute instructions that revised election rules. In response, Boockvar ordered an audit of the ballots but has yet to release the numbers.
Also, the Republican vote count observers must be allowed within six feet of the canvassing process. Polling officials in some Pennsylvania precincts, however, forced election observers to remain twenty feet or more from the process. This made it impossible for the observers to see the ballots, calling into question the validity of the recorded votes.
I changed my residence to the great state of Pennsylvania early this year. I voted absentee for @realDonaldTrump in the same way many members of our military vote. Last night I checked the PA voting records and they did not count my vote! #disenfranchised
— Carla Sands (@CarlaHSands) November 7, 2020
Rep. Scalise said:
“Dead people have clearly been identified as having cast ballots. These are all things that raise very serious concerns, and it’s part of the legal process.”
Here, Scalise was referring to the allegation that massive amounts of deceased Pennsylvanians which were still on the voter rolls. A lawsuit filed stated:
“As of October 7, 2020, at least 9,212 registrants have been dead for at least five years, at least 1,990 registrants have been dead for at least ten years, and at least 197 registrants have been dead for at least twenty years.”
The suit alleges:
“Pennsylvania still left the names of more than 21,000 dead individuals on the voter rolls less than a month before one of the most consequential general elections for federal officeholders in many years. About 92 percent of the 21,000 dead people on Pennsylvania’s voter rolls died sometime before October 2019. About 216 dead people show voting credits after federally listed dates of death in 2016 and 2018.”
21,000 DEAD voters found on Pennsylvania voter rolls. And you think President Trump should just roll over and accept the ever changing “results”? Mhmm, uh, no.
— Mattea Merta 🕊 (@MatteaMerta) November 6, 2020
The lawsuit’s concerns were supported Saturday evening when the Philadelphia GOP said it found on the state’s website that at least 840 dead people voted in the election.
Attorneys with Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) have said nearly 350,000 dead people are on voter rolls in 41 states. There were also a significant number of double voters. Roughly 51 percent of those are in New York, California, and Texas, in addition to the swing states of Michigan and Florida.
Told @VP Team Today, “it ain’t over til it’s over.. and this AIN’T over!” President @realDonaldTrump has never stopped fighting for us and we’re gonna Keep Fighting until every LEGAL vote is counted! 🇺🇸
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) November 9, 2020
President Trump and his campaign have promised more legal actions, hoping to land their case at the door of the U.S. Supreme Court. Republicans continue to assert that they cannot be sure elections officials are complying with guidance. This is a common view shared by many Trump supporters as there continue to be petitions sent out on social media sites requesting signatures.
Some petitions are state-focused, asking their governors and state representatives for a vote recount. Trump supporters and voters are also sharing a link that allows voters to send the U.S. Supreme Court a request for an investigation of voting fraud.
Many law experts, however, feel that efforts by the President and his supporters will not end in a victory for Trump. But this is 2020 after all, so it is best not to rule anything out!
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