A mysterious group is leaving robocalls about Indiana redistricting. Are they legal?
Political robocalls are the latest in the national campaign to pressure Hoosier lawmakers to support redistricting, a move the Trump administration hopes could add one to two more Republican seats in Congress in order to help solidify the GOP majority.
"Radical progressives like Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker and Kathy Hochul are threatening to redistrict their states with the goal of ending the Trump presidency," begins one robocall from a group calling itself "Forward America," before urging constituents to call their representatives about supporting redistricting.
But are the automated messages legal?
Indiana law prohibits robocalls unless the recipient gives permission, such as by opting in to the calls previously or asking callers to leave a message.
Rokita's office confirmed this week it had received multiple complaints and was beginning to review them.
"To clarify earlier reporting, the legality of the Forward America robocalls is an open question," Communications Director Josh DeFonce wrote in a post on Rokita's X account on Aug. 18. "Only just receiving them today and as you can understand, it will take some time to review those appropriately and fully."
The group conducting the calls has little online presence. There are no active committees with that exact name, according to a search of Federal Election Commission and Indiana Election Division data. A telephone number associated with the group only plays an automated version of the message when reached.
The calls started days before members of Indiana's congressional delegation came out in support of redistricting, a position at odds with several Republican state legislators who have called the push a "stunt" and a "bad precedent."
Already Republicans hold seven of nine congressional seats in Indiana.
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