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Texas AG Ken Paxton sues over DOJ’s use of election monitors

FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) (Tony Gutierrez, Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Monday against the Biden-Harris administration and the Department of Justice over the plan to use federal agents as election monitors on Election Day.

The DOJ made the announcement on Nov. 1, four days before Election Day, that it would be sending monitors to polling locations and central court locations in eight Texas counties: Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto, and Waller.

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Paxton argues no federal statute authorizes the Biden-Harris Administration to dispatch federal agents to monitor State elections when they are prohibited by State laws.

“Texas law is clear: Justice Department monitors are not permitted inside a polling place where ballots are being cast or a central counting station where ballots are being counted. As to the polling place, Section 61.001 of the Texas Election Code identifies those persons who may be lawfully present on election day; federal inspectors are not included in the enumerated list.… Nor are federal inspectors specified in the list of persons permitted in the central counting station while ballots are being counted,” the Texas Secretary of State said in a letter following the DOJ’s announcement.

You can read the lawsuit below:

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s lawless intimidation campaign infringes on States’ constitutional authority to run free and fair elections,” said Paxton. “Texas will not be intimidated and I will make every effort to prevent weaponized federal agencies from interfering in our elections.”


About the Author

Christian Terry covered digital news in Tyler and Wichita Falls before returning to the Houston area where he grew up. He is passionate about weather and the outdoors and often spends his days off on the water fishing.

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