After keeping poll watchers sent by the U.S. Justice Department out of Texas polling stations, Texas Attorney General Paxton now warns his office’s Election Day Rapid Response Team is ready to “address litigation” arising from voting.
“The Election Day Rapid Response Legal Team will be equipped to enforce Texas election laws and take immediate action on any contingencies, including issues seen in previous cycles such as ballot shortages, extended polling location closures, and improper extension of voting hours,” Paxton, a Republican and vehement Trump ally, wrote on social media platform X.
“Similarly, the OAG will prepare to take defensive action against activist groups who might attempt to influence the election through litigation.”
The Election Day Rapid Response Team will be present at polling stations in “major counties throughout the state,” Paxton added. It’s unclear whether they will be present in Bexar County.
Paxton’s comments came the same day he declined to join 51 members of the National Association of Attorneys General who signed a letter calling for a peaceful transfer of power. That letter also condemned election-related political violence.
“Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans,” the letter said. “Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise out authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”
Paxton’s office didn’t respond to the Current’s request for comment on his tweet and the refusal to sign the letter.
Paxton — who’s reportedly the subject of a federal investigation after top deputies accused him of bribery and abuse of office — spoke at the Jan. 6 rally that preceded Trump supporters sacking the U.S. Capitol. He’s also repeatedly echoed Trump’s debunked lies about the 2020 election being stolen.
What’s more, Paxton filed a widely derided lawsuit urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the votes of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in that contest. The high court refused to hear the suit, which included no evidence of actual fraud taking place in those states.
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This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2024.
