Padilla Blasts Trump Executive Order Attempting to Disenfranchise Millions of American Voters
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, issued the following statement condemning President Donald Trump’s harmful executive order that threatens to disenfranchise millions of American voters and undermines Congress’ authority over the administration of federal elections and the independence of the Election Assistance Commission:
“As former California Secretary of State and Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, I know full well that President Trump’s executive order does nothing to improve the safety of our federal elections — what it would do is disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters.
“President Trump is a notorious election denier. He lacks the authority to implement many of the changes laid out in this illegal executive order, which also ignores the requirements set forth in the bipartisan Help America Vote Act.
“Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy and attempts by the President to make it harder for eligible voters to participate hurts all Americans, regardless of party. I stand ready to work with anyone on responsible solutions to improve election security and increase voter participation, but this sham order is not the answer. I will keep fighting against the Trump Administration’s brazen attempts to undermine our elections, and will work to protect American voters.”
As Ranking Member of the Rules Committee, which has oversight over federal elections, Senator Padilla has fought against President Trump’s unprecedented attacks against election security. Last week, Padilla and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led 29 Democratic Senators in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to continue the essential work of the Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force, which directs the Department’s efforts to protect election officials from rising threats and acts of violence. Last month, he pressed senior officials at CISA for answers after they fired employees who have worked to combat election misinformation. During his first business meeting as Rules Committee Ranking Member, Padilla highlighted threats to election security and the importance of free and fair elections. Additionally, Padilla expressed serious concerns about the dangerous implications for elections following President Trump’s executive order purporting to bring independent regulatory agencies under total control of the White House. Padilla previously denounced the illegal firing of Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub and led 10 Democratic Senators to demand President Trump rescind his attempt to fire Weintraub.
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