EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Several El Paso area organizations and political leaders joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in asking for the federal government to step in and investigate the Texas Attorney General’s Office on allegations of official oppression.
The news conference was held outside the El Paso County Courthouse where LULAC alleged Attorney General Ken Paxton and his agents were responsible for oppressing minority voters through intimidation tactics.
This comes after the AG’s Office announced its Election Integrity Unit executed multiple search warrants in South Texas as part of a 2-year-long election integrity investigation based on allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting.
County Judge Ricardo Samaniego
Ray Mancera is the national vice president for the Southwest for LULAC
According to LULAC, the individuals being investigated were members of LULAC and registered Democrats.
“These armed agents wanted to send a message of fear and intimidation to scare others from helping Latinos and other minorities in Texas to register to vote. We have seen this pattern before in Texas, where alleged voter fraud investigations are conveniently launched right before an election, only to disappear afterward or get thrown out of court. But by then, the damage is done,” El Paso County Commissioner Sergio Coronado said.
LULAC is asking for the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate the legality of the raids – wanting the AG’s Office to be held responsible should the investigation reveal a violation of civil rights.
“Shame on any party member — Republican, Democrat, Independent. Shame on not wanting to have an even playing field. If you want a win, win on an even playing field,” El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said.
Participants at the news conference echoed similar sentiments, that the recent actions by the State of Texas would not deter them from exercising their right to vote.
“We will not be intimidated. We will not be discouraged. We will not be stopped. We will continue to register the young, the old, the middle aged. We challenge all voters to educate yourselves on what’s going on, make informed decisions, and elect leaders that will stand up for you,” said Carl Dwyer, president of the NAACP El Paso branch.
KTSM reached out to the Attorney General’s Office for comment on LULAC’s allegations but did not receive a response.
On Sept. 4, U.S. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, and other members of the Texas Democratic Delegation will hold a news conference to call on the DOJ to investigate any potential civil rights violations by Paxton and take necessary action.
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