(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) President Joe Biden signed an executive order in March 2021 that instructed the Department of Justice to increase voter access, but Attorney General Merrick Garland has refused to release documents that outline its implementation.
Several non-profit groups, including the Foundation for Government Accountability, have filed Freedom of Information Act requests. They have sought information on the order from various federal agencies but have not received a response, the Epoch Times reported.
Failing to hear back, the Florida-based FGA filed a lawsuit against the DOJ in April 2022.
In July 2022, a federal judge ruled that the DOJ must release a 15-page document related to implementing executive order 14019, but the DOJ ignored the directive, citing “the deliberative process privilege” and “the presidential communications privilege.”
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who sits on the House Oversight and Reform Committee, sent a letter to Garland about the FOIA delays. Eight other Republicans signed the letter.
Norman said the cited privileges do not apply because the order is a “finished, post-decisional document.”
“American voters have a right to see this plan,” Norman wrote to Garland. “Attempting to conceal this plan from the public is not only contrary to federal law, but is deeply concerning and damaging to the public’s already dwindling confidence in your department.”
He demanded the document’s release by Oct. 30.
Biden’s executive order authorized federal agencies to work with “approved” non-governmental groups, meaning that the program has likely funneled millions in taxpayer dollars to far-Left activist organizations.
Norman also raised a fundamental concern: the federal government does not have the right to tell states to “expand voter access”—a euphemism for eliminating election security measures.
“The U.S. Constitution makes it clear that states must manage their own elections, without meddling by the federal government,” Norman said.
