Justice Dept., Florida spar over purge of voter rolls

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His campaign in new voting issues for the critical state of Florida.

This time -- the Obama administration against the Republican governor Rick Scott who does not appear too keen on a new federal order.

To stop trying to clean up the voter rolls in Florida that's with the governors trying to -- The governor says it is necessary to remove it in eligible voters from the rolls and heard -- have free and fair elections saying what's wrong with that.

But the Justice Department argues he is violating.

The voting rights law.

But neither side budging a state elections official has stepped in to temporarily freeze the whole process.

While they sort out their differences.

But is that in effect a win.

For the department justice which wanted to stop this in the first place.

Joining me now Florida attorney general Pam bonding Pam welcome back.

Thinks Megan so the Justice Department -- it first of all Rick Scott goes out and says there's all of it thousands of bill and eligible voters on the rolls let's take care this now before the November election.

And the Department of Justice says not so fast governor Scott why why do they care.

Well that you know -- -- that's a great question because what do you think despite what party we are.

What ethnicity what race we should all want fair elections because every single person who -- illegally nullified a legal but.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You're messing with legitimate citizens in your in your effort to get the illegitimate voters off the rolls that your harassing people that there's a high Hispanic population.

And that this is gonna you know in nor I guess to the benefit of one party and hurt a lot of legitimate voters.

And this is the Department of State issue I'm not technically involved -- -- yet -- well I have a feeling how wealthy she's gonna say top blunt force but let me try to explain what department the department -- done.

And they didn't wanna do that that's exactly right you don't wanna start sending out these letters to the wrong people so last September they went to Homeland Security instead -- You have with these list.

You have access to the federal immigration list.

Given syphilis but let's work together so that doesn't happen and they -- obstructionist and they refused to work with the state of Florida would get.

That the federal government Homeland Security they refuse to give these lists to work with at the state of Florida it's about how all this came about.

Relevant because now the -- department justices saying you can't help purge your rolls right now because the Florida primaries coming up in your too close to the window of the primary be messing with the voter -- but you're saying.

The only reason we're so close to that window is because the DOJ the department Homeland Security stonewalled you on there on the information you need this.

So while there that the Department of State back in September they've been working towards this the goal and -- -- This should be something that we should all every every American should want a fair value your height and legal.

-- -- and see where where dead did this Department of Justice is concerned about disenfranchising.

Voters.

But we see Republican administration saying they are concerned about voter fraud and cleaning up voter rolls and other scenes it would be -- conflict by party.

We've -- Eric Holder.

Objecting to voter ID laws in various states and objecting to cleaning up that the voter rolls down in Florida.

How does this ultimately get resolved as -- as a legal matter in your view.

Well Florida -- just we're gonna keep fighting and we have governor Rick Scott he's tough he believes in what we're Julian.

The department -- state you know we artists down all right now.

And again that's a loss for you it is right now because.

We're -- all right now that you know my my my words to the Department of Justice are sit and we all want legal people to and not illegal people and that's what's happening and it's not -- party you do you think that there is it that this they've accomplished their goal because this is what they wanted whether they have the right legal leg to stand out or not.

They -- -- this thing's gonna shut it down and are you now stuck between now and November.

In terms of your -- can you want to get resolved by November.

Well I have said because I know the department this state they're still asking Homeland Security to work with them we're gonna see if that's gonna happen and the broader perspective -- in terms of you know.

-- even -- you see Democrats in and democratic administrations like.

Like this one objecting to this type of effort saying disenfranchisement disenfranchisement.

Do you take that is that totally specious or is there something to -- that some people might be disenfranchises so you need to tread lightly.

Well I I do believe you need to tread lightly in that you need to be actor you don't need to be sending.

All these people letters and scaring them if they are registered voters and dots with the state of Florida was trying to accomplish by working with Homeland Security by getting the list of -- -- suspected to be get adamant on the roll exactly and stuff and going through that first before -- -- all these latter are you entitled to as a Florida entitled to that list from the department of -- Obama I think -- out we absolutely should be I think they should work with us because again as attorney general.

Of the state of Florida I find it very frustrating I think every American should find it very frustrating.

And troubling that they don't want to work with our -- and to ensure that the proper people -- it assuming you're stonewalling nothing happens between now and November we go to November Florida's critical state this election is it is an every president and presidential election.

What remedy would there be if you then find out that a number of illegal immigrants have voted -- folks who are not.

Legitimate voters have voted what can you as the attorney general do that well we're gonna see what happens between now and then going to be very careful what I say now but.

But I'll tell you look at 2000 I mean that that that race was what lost some -- less than a thousand votes may get I've -- and -- that's right hanging -- that's right.

That gives it a -- to a lot of the reporters like my friend Bill Hemmer who.

Down arrow right on time covering that and we don't want any change as -- sent out now from you were gonna call you now that's.

Thank you ma'am thank you great to --

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Justice Dept., Florida spar over purge of voter rolls

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