Latest news with #PearsallCityCouncil
Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Texas Charges 6 Over Alleged Vote Harvesting
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued indictments for six individuals allegedly involved in election crimes related to vote harvesting. In a May 7 The charges stemmed from an investigation that started in August 2024, when multiple search The majority of those arrested were charged with vote harvesting, a third-degree felony offense that involves a monetary exchange for collecting and submitting others' absentee ballots. Some of the officials have been 'The people of Texas deserve fair and honest elections, not backroom deals and political insiders rigging the system. Elected officials who think they can cheat to stay in power will be held accountable. No one is above the law,' Paxton said. Related Stories 10/30/2024 10/26/2024 'My office will continue to work with Frio County District Attorney Audrey Louis to protect the integrity of our elections.' At the time the warrants were served, one of the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organizations, the League of United Latin American Citizens, called the attorney general's actions an effort in voter suppression. 'This is voter suppression 101,' he said. 'There's no vote harvesting going on. There's nobody creating these ballots. That's a lie.' Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho was indicted on three counts of vote harvesting, and former Frio County Elections Administrator Carlos Segura faces one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Pearsall City Council members Ramiro Trevino and Racheal Garza were each indicted on one count of vote harvesting. Pearsall ISD Trustee Adriann Ramirez was indicted on three counts of vote harvesting, and Rosa Rodriguez, an alleged vote harvester in Frio County, was indicted on two counts of vote harvesting. The recent arrests are part of a multi-year effort by Paxton to address voter fraud following the 2020 election. A Texas woman, Raquel Rodriguez, Four more individuals were arrested a month later on 150 counts of voter fraud related to the 2018 primary election, according to a In June 2022, indictments from Paxton's office led to a Port Lavaca woman's 'Secure elections are the cornerstone of our republic,' Paxton 'We are completely committed to protecting the security of the ballot box and the integrity of every legal vote. This means ensuring accountability for anyone committing election crimes.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas attorney general announces vote fraud charges against 6 people
A county judge, a former elections administrator and three other elected officials are among a half-dozen people indicted in an alleged 'vote harvesting' scheme in a small south Texas county, state Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday. 'Elected officials who think they can cheat to stay in power will be held accountable. No one is above the law,' Paxton said in a statement. According to Paxton's office, Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho faces three counts of vote harvesting; former county elections administrator Carlos Segura faces one count of evidence tampering; Pearsall City Council members Ramiro Trevino and Racheal Garza face one count each of vote harvesting; Pearsall Independent School District Trustee Adriann Ramirez faces three counts of vote harvesting; and campaign worker Rosa Rodriguez faces two counts of vote harvesting. Frio County has a population of about 18,000 residents and is about 65 miles southwest of San Antonio. Republicans have long sought to curb the role of intermediaries in elections, but critics contend that some voters rely on third parties to ensure their ballots are turned in on time. The Texas Legislature approved a sweeping election law overhaul in 2021 that, among other provisions, outlawed 'vote harvesting services,' essentially collecting ballots in exchange for compensation or in massive amounts. The law is being challenged in court, which prompted a temporary hold on state investigations into vote harvesting claims last year, but Paxton appealed and was allowed to continue seeking charges. The League of United Latin American Citizens, a voting rights advocacy group, has accused Paxton, who is running against Sen. John Cornyn (R) in Texas's 2026 Senate election, of targeting Hispanic and Democratic voters. According to a tally last year from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states allow voters to authorize someone else to return their ballots. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
What Is Vote Harvesting? Officials Indicted in Texas AG Ken Paxton's Probe
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Six individuals in rural Frio County, Texas — including two Pearsall City Council members and a school board trustee — were indicted on felony charges stemming from a growing election fraud investigation led by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. The case, criticized by Latino civil rights advocates as politically motivated, adds weight to an inquiry that has drawn scrutiny for its aggressive tactics. Announced on May 1, the indictments include Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho, Pearsall City Council members Ramiro Trevino and Racheal Garza, Pearsall ISD Trustee Adriann Ramirez, former Frio County Elections Administrator Carlos Segura, and resident Rosa Rodriguez. Paxton said, "The people of Texas deserve fair and honest elections, not backroom deals and political insiders rigging the system. Elected officials who think they can cheat to stay in power will be held accountable." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears at a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case before state District Judge Andrea Beall, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Harris County Criminal Courts at Law in Houston. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears at a pretrial hearing in his securities fraud case before state District Judge Andrea Beall, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Harris County Criminal Courts at Law in Houston. Associated Press Most of the accused face third-degree felony charges for "vote harvesting," a Texas offense that involves collecting and submitting other people's absentee ballots, often for payment. Several defendants allegedly used Cash App for these transactions. Segura faces a separate charge of tampering with evidence. The investigation gained attention last year after state agents raided the homes of Latino campaign workers near San Antonio, including an 87-year-old woman. None of those individuals have been charged. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), whose members were affected by the raids, previously called for a federal investigation into the state's actions. "This is voter suppression 101," said Gabriel Rosales, LULAC's Texas director. "There's no vote harvesting going on. There's nobody creating these ballots. That's a lie." The indictments followed accusations by Mary Moore, Camacho's opponent in the March 2022 Democratic primary. According to affidavits, Moore claimed Camacho employed a woman who had been collecting ballots in Frio County for nearly 30 years, charging candidates between $1,500 and $2,500 for services including collecting ballots and transporting voters. Court documents indicate Camacho and Ramirez — identified as sisters — targeted elderly residents in a Pearsall subdivision in October 2022. The woman allegedly smuggled ballots under her shirt and switched vehicles to avoid detection. Investigators allege Segura shared information on ballot mailing and delivery schedules with her. Segura dismissed the charges, saying, "The only word I have right now is that it's ridiculous," adding that he was advised not to comment further. The other defendants did not respond to requests for comment. A federal appeals court upheld Texas's stricter voting laws last year, reinforcing penalties that critics argue suppress minority voter turnout. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
The Hill
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Texas AG announces vote fraud charges against six people
A county judge, a former elections administrator and three other elected officials are among half a dozen people indicted in an alleged 'vote harvesting' scheme in a small south Texas county, state Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday. 'Elected officials who think they can cheat to stay in power will be held accountable. No one is above the law,' Paxton said in a statement. According to Paxton's office, Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho faces three counts of vote harvesting; former county elections administrator Carlos Segura faces one count of evidence tampering; Pearsall City Council members Ramiro Trevino and Racheal Garza face one count each of vote harvesting; Pearsall Independent School District Trustee Adriann Ramirez faces three counts of vote harvesting; and campaign worker Rosa Rodriguez faces two counts of vote harvesting. Frio County has a population of about 18,000 residents and is located about 65 miles southwest of San Antonio. Republicans have long sought to curb the role of intermediaries in elections, but critics contend that some voters rely on third parties to ensure their ballots are turned in on time. The Texas Legislature approved a sweeping election law overhaul in 2021 that, among other provisions, outlawed 'vote harvesting services,' essentially collecting ballots in exchange for compensation or in massive amounts. The law is being challenged in court, which prompted a temporary hold on state investigations into vote harvesting claims last year, but Paxton appealed and was allowed to continue seeking charges. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a voting rights advocacy group, has accused Paxton, who is running against Sen. John Cornyn (R) in Texas's 2026 Senate election, of targeting Hispanic and Democratic voters. According to a tally last year from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states allow voters to authorize someone else to return their ballots.
