Reply #130: Congresswoman Seeks Federal Investigation of Wisconsin Election = John Nichols

[L. Coyote]

Congresswoman Seeks Federal Investigation of Wisconsin Election
John Nichols
April 10, 2011 - http://www.thenation.com/blog/159838/congresswoman-seeks-federal-investigation-wisconsin-election


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“For our democracy to endure, we, the people, must have faith in its laws and system of justice, including faith that our elections for public office are fair and free from any manipulation or tampering,” Baldwin wrote to Holder. “Following this week’s election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, numerous constituents have contacted me expressing serious doubt that this election was a free and fair one. They fear, as I do, that political interests are manipulating the results.”

Baldwin is not exaggerating when she refers to “numerous constituents… expressing serious doubt that this election was a free and fair one.”

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Baldwin’s tone throughout her letter is measured and responsible. She relies on the facts. And the facts point to the conclusion that outside intervention is warranted.

Borrowing from demands made by watchdog groups in Wisconsin, the congresswoman suggests that: “To ensure that the April 5th election for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice is free, fair, and transparent, and to uphold faith in our democracy for ourselves and future generations, I ask for your immediate assistance in investigating these election inconsistencies in Wisconsin. Specifically, I urge you to immediately assign the Justice Department Public Integrity Section, which oversees the federal prosecution of election crimes, to investigate the questionable handling of vote records in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.”

If Holder makes that assignment, the lawyers from the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section can work with Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board ..........