Latest news with #voteharvesting
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
9 people plead not guilty in a Texas elections probe involving 'vote harvesting'
Nine people, including a former mayor and city council member and the chief of staff to a state representative, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony charges brought forth in a rural Texas county by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton as part of a widening elections investigation that is being criticized by Latino rights activists as being politically driven. The nine people appeared either in person or by Zoom during a court hearing in Pearsall, Texas, before state District Judge Sid Harle. All of the nine people, who were indicted in late June, have been charged with what is known in Texas as vote harvesting, a felony that often involves payment for collecting and dropping off other people's absentee ballots. In May, six other people, including Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho, the top elected official in the county, were indicted as part of Paxton's investigation. One of the individuals who pleaded not guilty on Wednesday was Juan Manuel Medina, who is the chief of staff for state Rep. Elizabeth Campos. Medina is also former chairman of the Democratic Party of Bexar County, where San Antonio is located. Medina's lawyer, Gerry Goldstein, declined to comment on Wednesday. 'I'm going to do my talking in the courtroom,' Goldstein said. On Wednesday, Goldstein filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Medina, who is accused of providing compensation as a third party to two people for vote harvesting in February 2024. In the motion to dismiss, Goldstein said the vote-harvesting statute is overbroad, vague and 'restricts Constitutionally protected rights to speech and to participate in the election and voting process in violation of the First Amendment.' Goldstein said in the motion that the vote-harvesting statute 'would appear to punish a broad range of protected speech, including non-coercive voter assistance and core political expression, without requiring any actual voter fraud, coercion, or intimidation.' 'This indictment charges Medina in a capacity that is not a crime and the indictment should be dismissed,' Goldstein said in his 20-page motion. The vote-harvesting charges are third-degree felonies and carry up to 10 years in prison. The other people who were indicted in June are: Cecilia Castellano, a former candidate for state representative; Frio County Commissioner Raul Carrizales; former Dilley Mayor Mary Ann Obregon; former Dilley City Council member Inelda Rodriguez; Petra Davina Trevino, a former candidate for Pearsall city council; Pearsall school district trustee Mari Benavides; Susanna Carrizales; and Rachel Leal. Attorneys for Raul Carrizales, Susanna Carrizales, Castellano, Obregon and Rodriguez did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Attorneys for Benavides, Leal and Trevino could not immediately be reached for comment. Paxton's office and 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis, whose office presented the case to a grand jury with the Texas Attorney General's Office, did not return a call or email seeking comment. Last month, Paxton said that any elected official 'trying to cheat the system will have to answer for it.' 'Under my watch, attempts to rig elections and silence the will of the voters will be met with the full force of the law. I will continue to fight to ensure Texas has free and fair elections,' Paxton said in a statement. The indictments were the latest development in an investigation that Paxton started after the 2020 election to root out voter fraud, which is rare and typically occurs in isolated instances. Texas has tightened its voter laws in recent years and increased penalties that Democrats and opponents say are attempts to suppress turnout among Black and Latino voters. A federal appeals court last year upheld the state's law that tightened voter restrictions and increased penalties for vote harvesting. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
9 people plead not guilty in a Texas elections probe involving 'vote harvesting'
HOUSTON — Nine people, including a former mayor and city council member and the chief of staff to a state representative, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony charges brought forth in a rural Texas county by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton as part of a widening elections investigation that is being criticized by Latino rights activists as being politically driven . The nine people appeared either in person or by Zoom during a court hearing in Pearsall, Texas, before state District Judge Sid Harle. All of the nine people, who were indicted in late June, have been charged with what is known in Texas as vote harvesting, a felony that often involves payment for collecting and dropping off other people's absentee ballots. In May, six other people, including Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho, the top elected official in the county, were indicted as part of Paxton's investigation. One of the individuals who pleaded not guilty on Wednesday was Juan Manuel Medina, who is the chief of staff for state Rep. Elizabeth Campos. Medina is also former chairman of the Democratic Party of Bexar County, where San Antonio is located. Medina's lawyer, Gerry Goldstein, declined to comment on Wednesday. 'I'm going to do my talking in the courtroom,' Goldstein said. On Wednesday, Goldstein filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Medina, who is accused of providing compensation as a third party to two people for vote harvesting in February 2024. In the motion to dismiss, Goldstein said the vote-harvesting statute is overbroad, vague and 'restricts Constitutionally protected rights to speech and to participate in the election and voting process in violation of the First Amendment.' Goldstein said in the motion that the vote-harvesting statute 'would appear to punish a broad range of protected speech, including non-coercive voter assistance and core political expression, without requiring any actual voter fraud, coercion, or intimidation.' 'This indictment charges Medina in a capacity that is not a crime and the indictment should be dismissed,' Goldstein said in his 20-page motion. The vote-harvesting charges are third-degree felonies and carry up to 10 years in prison. The other people who were indicted in June are: Cecilia Castellano, a former candidate for state representative; Frio County Commissioner Raul Carrizales; former Dilley Mayor Mary Ann Obregon; former Dilley City Council member Inelda Rodriguez; Petra Davina Trevino, a former candidate for Pearsall city council; Pearsall school district trustee Mari Benavides; Susanna Carrizales; and Rachel Leal. Attorneys for Raul Carrizales, Susanna Carrizales, Castellano, Obregon and Rodriguez did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Attorneys for Benavides, Leal and Trevino could not immediately be reached for comment. Paxton's office and 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis, whose office presented the case to a grand jury with the Texas Attorney General's Office, did not return a call or email seeking comment. Last month, Paxton said that any elected official 'trying to cheat the system will have to answer for it.' 'Under my watch, attempts to rig elections and silence the will of the voters will be met with the full force of the law. I will continue to fight to ensure Texas has free and fair elections,' Paxton said in a statement. The indictments were the latest development in an investigation that Paxton started after the 2020 election to root out voter fraud, which is rare and typically occurs in isolated instances. Texas has tightened its voter laws in recent years and increased penalties that Democrats and opponents say are attempts to suppress turnout among Black and Latino voters. A federal appeals court last year upheld the state's law that tightened voter restrictions and increased penalties for vote harvesting. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
9 people plead not guilty in a Texas elections probe involving 'vote harvesting'
HOUSTON (AP) — Nine people, including a former mayor and city council member and the chief of staff to a state representative, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony charges brought forth in a rural Texas county by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton as part of a widening elections investigation that is being criticized by Latino rights activists as being politically driven. The nine people appeared either in person or by Zoom during a court hearing in Pearsall, Texas, before state District Judge Sid Harle. All of the nine people, who were indicted in late June, have been charged with what is known in Texas as vote harvesting, a felony that often involves payment for collecting and dropping off other people's absentee ballots. In May, six other people, including Frio County Judge Rochelle Camacho, the top elected official in the county, were indicted as part of Paxton's investigation. One of the individuals who pleaded not guilty on Wednesday was Juan Manuel Medina, who is the chief of staff for state Rep. Elizabeth Campos. Medina is also former chairman of the Democratic Party of Bexar County, where San Antonio is located. Medina's lawyer, Gerry Goldstein, declined to comment on Wednesday. 'I'm going to do my talking in the courtroom,' Goldstein said. On Wednesday, Goldstein filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Medina, who is accused of providing compensation as a third party to two people for vote harvesting in February 2024. In the motion to dismiss, Goldstein said the vote-harvesting statute is overbroad, vague and 'restricts Constitutionally protected rights to speech and to participate in the election and voting process in violation of the First Amendment.' Goldstein said in the motion that the vote-harvesting statute 'would appear to punish a broad range of protected speech, including noncoercive voter assistance and core political expression, without requiring any actual voter fraud, coercion, or intimidation.' 'This indictment charges Medina in a capacity that is not a crime and the indictment should be dismissed,' Goldstein said in his 20-page motion. The vote-harvesting charges are third-degree felonies and carry up to 10 years in prison. The other people who were indicted in June are: Cecilia Castellano, a former candidate for state representative; Frio County Commissioner Raul Carrizales; former Dilley Mayor Mary Ann Obregon; former Dilley City Council member Inelda Rodriguez; Petra Davina Trevino, a former candidate for Pearsall city council; Pearsall school district trustee Mari Benavides; Susanna Carrizales; and Rachel Leal. Attorneys for Raul Carrizales, Susanna Carrizales, Castellano, Obregon and Rodriguez did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Attorneys for Benavides, Leal and Trevino could not immediately be reached for comment. Paxton's office and 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis, who office presented the case to a grand jury with the Texas Attorney General's Office, did not return a call or email seeking comment. Last month, Paxton said that any elected official 'trying to cheat the system will have to answer for it.' 'Under my watch, attempts to rig elections and silence the will of the voters will be met with the full force of the law. I will continue to fight to ensure Texas has free and fair elections,' Paxton said in a statement. The indictments were the latest development in an investigation that Paxton started after the 2020 election to root out voter fraud, which is rare and typically occurs in isolated instances. Texas has tightened its voter laws in recent years and increased penalties that Democrats and opponents say are attempts to suppress turnout among Black and Latino voters. A federal appeals court last year upheld the state's law that tightened voter restrictions and increased penalties for vote harvesting. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Randall County GOP chair charged with felony election fraud
The chair of the Randall County Republican Party was booked into jail Monday on a state felony election fraud charge. Kelly Kenten Giles, 64, is accused of providing false information on his application and petition to run for the Randall County Republican Party Chair seat in December 2023 for a spot on the 2024 primary ballot, according to the grand jury indictment signed late last month. It is unclear what about his application or petition was considered fraudulent. The offense is typically classified as a misdemeanor, but because Giles is accused of doing it while serving as an elected official, it becomes a felony. Giles did not respond to a request for comment, nor did anyone else with the Randall County Republican Party. The Texas Republican Party Chairman Abraham George said he learned of the allegations Tuesday. 'The Republican Party of Texas is steadfastly committed to upholding election integrity and the principles of the rule of law,' George said in an email. 'I am resolute in my duty to ensure that our commitment to securing Texas elections is upheld, which entails conducting elections with integrity by our elected party officials.' Giles' arrest comes after years of Texas Republicans cracking down on election integrity in the years that follow the 2020 election, despite no such evidence of widespread fraud. This crackdown escalated days ago when a former Democratic state House candidate was indicted alongside nine others for alleged vote harvesting in South Texas. The chairman was reelected to his seat as GOP chairman in the 2024 March primary election with 51% of the vote against two opponents, Brien Maxwell and Pat Bohlender. He was originally elected to his seat in May 2023 by the County Executive Committee, according to the Amarillo Tribune. Giles' indictment was handed down June 25 and the warrant was issued. He was booked into the Randall County jail and has since been released, according to the jail log. His case is being prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General's Office of the Election Integrity after the Randall County District Attorney recused his office. Shape the future of Texas at the 15th annual , happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin! We bring together Texas' most inspiring thinkers, leaders and innovators to discuss the issues that matter to you. Get tickets now and join us this November. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Democratic state House candidate among nine indicted for alleged vote harvesting in South Texas
A South Texas grand jury this week reportedly indicted nine people, including the former chair of the Bexar County Democratic Party and a former Texas House candidate, for alleged vote harvesting in a sprawling investigation led by Attorney General Ken Paxton that has targeted Latino Democrats in the state. Among the indicted were Manuel Medina, who once led Bexar County Democrats and served as a legislative aide, as well as Cecilia Castellano, who lost a bid last year to represent a district that includes Frio County in the Legislature's lower chamber, according to KSAT, which first reported the development Wednesday. The indictments add to six previous ones revealed by Paxton in May and are the latest escalation in a probe that last year resulted in search warrants that led Texas authorities to seize Castellano's phone and raid Medina's home. At the time, Latino leaders in Texas condemned the moves while Democratic state lawmakers asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the state for potential violations of federal law and civil and voting rights amid a flurry of what Republican state leaders described as efforts to secure the state's elections. On Thursday, neither Paxton's office nor 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis returned requests for comment. KSAT attributed the information in its report to Louis. Castellano turned herself into authorities on Wednesday upon learning of two charges of vote harvesting leveled against her, her lawyer Don Flanary said. He professed his client's innocence and questioned the government's allegations in using a charge whose constitutionality is unsettled in courts. In September, a federal judge ruled that certain prohibitions of voter outreach efforts in the Texas law were unconstitutionally vague and restricted free speech. But the New Orleans 5th Circuit appeals court overturned the decision when Paxton's office appealed it. 'Cecilia is innocent. She didn't do anything illegal and I don't think they are going to be able to prove it,' Flanary said by telephone, dismissing the prosecutions as 'plainly' politically motivated. 'The problem is it's very chilling for people.' He added: 'It's highly inappropriate, in my opinion, to be filing these charges now when the 5th Circuit is going to rule about whether the activity is even a crime. … These people aren't charged with voter fraud. These people aren't charged with the traditional ways that it's illegal to get votes or do voter fraud.' Medina did not immediately return a call Thursday. Neither did his lawyer. The others charged include the former mayors of Pearsall and Dilley and other local elected officials from those cities and Frio County, according to KSAT. Some of them were the targets of search warrants executed by Paxton's office in May, according to the San Antonio news station. Many were distraught by the allegations, Gabriel Rosales, League of United Latin American Citizens' Texas director, said in a brief interview. LULAC last year raised alarms about the raids in August in which authorities also targeted the homes of elderly volunteers with guns drawn in early morning hours, the group and targets said. 'It's very disappointing that they would want to continue to go on with this witchhunt,' Rosales said. 'They're literally in tears.' The extent of the allegations is not clear. The Tribune could not get copies of the indictments on Thursday. Frio County District Clerk Ofilia M. Trevino said they were not yet available online. Search warrants obtained by the Tribune last year following the raids showed that authorities were investigating allegations that a longtime Frio County political operator had illegally harvested votes for multiple local races in recent years. Vote harvesting, or the collection of ballots, is a term used by many Republicans to refer to the process of designating someone else to return a completed voter's ballot to election officials. The practice is permissible under federal law but numerous states have passed legislation to restrict it, including not letting the ballot collector be compensated or placing a limit on the number of ballots a person can collect, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The charges leveled by Paxton's office this spring were under a 2021 state law that made it a third-degree felony for a person to knowingly provide or offer 'vote harvesting services' — or the collection of ballots — in exchange for compensation, unless the person is employed as a caregiver for a voter who is eligible to vote by mail. That includes Texans who are 65 or older on Election Day or who are unable to vote in person due to illness or be away from their county throughout the entire election. Under the law, organizers of voter outreach groups and volunteers could spend up to 10 years in prison and be fined up to $10,000 for offering these services. 'The people of Texas deserve fair and honest elections, not backroom deals and political insiders rigging the system,' Paxton said in a May statement. 'Elected officials who think they can cheat to stay in power will be held accountable. No one is above the law.' Disclosure: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 🎆 During our Independence Day Sale, save $30 on your TribFest ticket.* Tribune members, students and educators save even more! Act fast — Offer ends at midnight Friday, July 4. *Discount does not apply to Executive or VIP tickets TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
