LAST DITCH

Democrats Appeal Ohio Voter-Intimidation Ruling to SCOTUS

After court removes protections opposed by Team Trump.

The Ohio Democratic Party appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court late Sunday night to restore an injunction put in place against anyone found harassing voters in the battleground state, a measure fought for by Democrats who have accused Donald Trump and his supporters of waging a “voter-intimidation program.” The Democratic National Committee had pushed for special measures in Ohio and five other swing states, and on Friday, U.S. District Court Judge James Gwin agreed, issuing an injunction saying those who monitor polling stations must not block or hinder voters, must not take photographs of voters, and may not interrogate them within 100 feet of the polling station. He said there was sufficient reason to believe Trump supporters might harass voters, given Trump’s rhetoric about “vote rigging.” Trump’s campaign denied the charges and appealed the ruling, arguing that it was a violation of the First Amendment. On Saturday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Trump and lifted Gwin’s restrictions, just two days before Election Day.