19 Democratic attorneys general sue Trump over elections order
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Trump at the White House on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Democratic attorneys general in 19 states are suing President Trump over his sweeping changes to federal elections, which they say is a "blatantly unconstitutional attempt to legislate-by-fiat."
The big picture: The attorneys general argue in their lawsuit that was filed on Thursday that Trump has "no authority" to issue the order, which includes a proof of citizenship requirement and aims to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day.
State of play: Trump has long railed against mail-in voting and said last week, as he signed the "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections" order, he believed his action would go "a long way toward ending" election fraud.
- However, the states contend in their suit filed in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts: "Neither the Constitution nor Congress has authorized the President to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements or to modify state mail-ballot procedures."
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the DNC and other Democratic groups filed a lawsuit on Monday, also arguing that Trump's executive order on election changes was unconstitutional.
What they're saying: "We are a democracy — not a monarchy — and this Executive Order is an authoritarian power grab. With this Order, this President is prioritizing his own quest for unchecked power above the rights and will of the public," said New York Attorney General Letitia James in an emailed statement.
- Aaron Ford, attorney general of Nevada, one of the lead states in the suit, along with Massachusetts and California, said in an emailed statement: "The Trump administration tried to illegally seize power from the states and Congress by interfering in elections."
The other side: White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields, in a media statement after Monday's lawsuit was filed, said the Trump administration "is standing up for free, fair, and honest elections and asking this basic question [about citizenship] is essential to our Constitutional Republic." Fields accused Democrats of showing "disdain for the Constitution."
- The Justice Department said in an emailed statement Tuesday: "The Department of Justice has vigorously defended President Trump's executive actions, including the order to Preserve and Protect the Integrity of American Elections, and will continue to do so."
- Representatives for the Trump administration did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment in the evening.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
