New Mexico State GOP Members Sued Over Intimidation of Latino Voters

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed two separate lawsuits against members of the New Mexico State Republican Party.

Talking Points Memo reported last week that Latino voters complained that Republican Lawyer Pat Rogers and Private Investigator Al Romero “went to the homes of their family members, and intimidating and confusing them about their right to vote in the general election.”

In another article, the Associated Press reports that the daughter of a woman being represented by MALDEF said her 67-year-old mother “cried and was frightened after Romero came to her home”. The investigator threatened to call immigration authorities even after the woman’s mother told him she was a U.S. citizen.

Ten people have been targeted by the New Mexico State Republican Party with claims that they voted fraudulently. In the ACLU lawsuit, one of the plaintiffs claims that after he had filled out a voter application, his private information was leaked to the media and he was depicted as a “fraudulent voter”. The State Attorney General is investigating how the New Mexico State Republican Party gained access to confidential voter information.

In addition to Republican Lawyer Pat Rogers and Private Investigator Al Romero being named as defendants in the lawsuit, the Associated Press reports that,

“The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the defendants from intimidating, threatening or harassing voters about their eligibility to vote or to interfere with that right.”

“The lawsuit also names Rep. Justine Fox-Young, R-Albuquerque, and unnamed members of the state Republican Party of illegally using Social Security numbers and birth dates to obtain information about voters.”

More on this story can be found here.

Individuals who have questions or concerns about their voting rights should call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Posted in: ACLU American Civil Liberties Union,GOP,Latino Voters,MALDEF,New Mexico,Voter Intimidation,voting rights