Top U.S. security official says he cannot send law enforcement to polling sites

[webfact]

Top U.S. security official says he cannot send law enforcement to polling sites

By Ted Hesson

 

FILE PHOTO: Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf testifies during a hearing before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at Dirksen Senate Office Building August 6, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Pool via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's top homeland security official said on Sunday that his department does not have the authority to send law enforcement to polling sites during the November election despite Trump's suggestion that federal officers could be deployed to guard against election fraud.

 

"That’s not what we do at the Department of Homeland Security," Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said on CNN'S "State of the Union." "We have express authorities authorized by Congress and this is not one of them," he added.

 

Trump has said repeatedly and without evidence that a shift to universal mail-in voting - something most states have not proposed doing - will lead to fraud in the Nov. 3 election. The Republican president is running against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, who currently holds a substantial lead in public opinion polls.

 

Trump told Fox News on Thursday that law enforcement, including sheriffs and U.S. attorneys, would be deployed to polling stations around the country to stop fraud.

 

Civil liberties groups said sending police to polling sites could be viewed as voter intimidation, which is prohibited under federal and state laws. Several states bar police presence at polling sites, according to New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan public policy institute.

 

The acting director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Sunday said he didn't have the authority to send officers to watch polling sites, after President Donald Trump said he would deploy law enforcement to monitor voting in the November election. This report produced by Zachary Goelman.

 

Law enforcement personnel with the Department of Homeland Security were deployed to Portland, Oregon, in July to respond to protests against racial injustice. This caused tensions with state and local officials but Wolf defended the move.

 

Wolf also said on Sunday that he had seen no evidence that countries such as Russia and China were planning to forge mail-in ballots to influence the U.S. election, another Trump claim.

 

Wolf said the department was focused on cybersecurity threats, such as campaigns by other nations to spread false information online.

 

(Reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Mary Milliken and Chizu Nomiyama)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-24

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.  

 

[Tug]

Good we’ve having enough interference in the election allready with the administration trying to solicit foreign help with the president himself trying to cast doubt with the deliberate sabotage of the post office to suppress the vote it’s good to see he can’t use the feds to intimidate voters it’s so obvious he’s doing anything he can to rigg the election looks like he can’t use this avenue (for now)

[PatOngo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. President Donald Trump's top homeland security official said on Sunday that his department does not have the authority to send law enforcement to polling sites during the November election despite Trump's suggestion that federal officers could be deployed to guard against election fraud.

The greatest fraud to worry about is Don himself!

Edited August 24, 2020 by Scott

[mtls2005]

Fire him, and get somebody who will send DHS troops to polling places to insure that voters vote for trump.

 

bill barr can help?

 

 

this chad wolf is a doofus. illegally appointed, and should resign.

 

On August 14, 2020, the GAO ruled that his succession as DHS Secretary was improper and that Wolf was ineligible to serve in the role;[2][3] the Trump administration disputes this and Wolf continues in the role.

 

From 2005 to 2016, Wolf was a lobbyist, helping clients secure contracts from the Transportation Security Administration, his previous employer.

[rcummings]

When even Chad Wolf, who is the epitome of a Trump enabler, says "no", you know that Trump has crossed a very clearly demarcated line.

[Matzzon]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

top homeland security official said on Sunday that his department does not have the authority

In the uSA they really have a way with words. Calling something Homeland Security and after that makes it lack authority to demand and send protection against election fraud in the country. That´s as real as Mickey Mouse and the frickin Disneyland. Good job again!

[Paul Henry]

Trump once again proves his ignorance and inability to manage. He did not ask or read up on the law surrounding election. No person carrying arms are allowed in an election voting sight. This is just a brief part of the act (it also states no intimidation). Trump has once again opened his mouth and spoke about something he has no knowledge about,

and he is supposed to be running the country. His sister is right in her summation of her brother Donald.

[Scott Tracy]

My question is: as this is a 'national' election, for President of the United States, are the polling booths federal property? Are the voting locations on federal property? If not, then it's a State problem surely?

[Morch]

9 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Fire him, and get somebody who will send DHS troops to polling places to insure that voters vote for trump.

 

bill barr can help?

 

 

this chad wolf is a doofus. illegally appointed, and should resign.

 

On August 14, 2020, the GAO ruled that his succession as DHS Secretary was improper and that Wolf was ineligible to serve in the role;[2][3] the Trump administration disputes this and Wolf continues in the role.

 

From 2005 to 2016, Wolf was a lobbyist, helping clients secure contracts from the Transportation Security Administration, his previous employer.

 

Drain the swamp. Fail.

[Skeptic7]

"Yor FIRED!"

[Pattaya Spotter]

5 hours ago, Scott Tracy said:

My question is: as this is a 'national' election, for President of the United States, are the polling booths federal property? Are the voting locations on federal property? If not, then it's a State problem surely?

I take it you're not American...elections, including for federal office, are conducted by the individual states. Ballot and election security are functions of state officials and state and local law enforcement.

[ChouDoufu]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump told Fox News on Thursday that law enforcement, including sheriffs and U.S. attorneys, would be deployed to polling stations around the country to stop fraud.

 

and how will deploying troops to polling stations prevent mail-in ballot fraud?

 

would make more sense to require in-person voting, and between each voter, render the locations safe with disinfectant, by injection inside or almost a cleaning, followed by a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, supposing you brought the light inside the polling booth, which you can do either through the curtain or in some other way.

[Damual Travesty]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump has said repeatedly and without evidence that a shift to universal mail-in voting - something most states have not proposed doing - will lead to fraud in the Nov. 3 election.

This statement is a LIE. The Attorney General of the United States has also spoken strongly on the matter. There are multiple examples of issues related to mail in voting. I am really getting tired of news people who make statements like this when they know they are false.

 

The attorney general of the United States is NOT a previous friend of Donald Trump, and if anything you would have expected him to be a never Trumper for serving in the G Bush administration in the same capacity.

 

As we live in an age where many websites are headquartered now in areas of Chinese Communist party control and are quite possibly now infiltrated by Communist party operatives it is necessary for me to be crystal clear in my source here for the Attorney general William Barr's statements. The accusation of making things up comes to quickly and can result in disappearance rather quickly. Hope you get a chance to read this:

https://nypost.com/2020/08/10/william-barr-lawmakers-backing-vote-by-mail-grossly-irresponsible/

https://www.newsweek.com/barr-mail-voting-election-1525057

 

There are plenty of cases all over the place on this issue. Despite all the news outlets stating there is no evidence. There is a war on folks. It's real. And blood is already being shed.

[Damual Travesty]

16 minutes ago, ChouDoufu said:

 

and how will deploying troops to polling stations prevent mail-in ballot fraud?

 

would make more sense to require in-person voting, and between each voter, render the locations safe with disinfectant, by injection inside or almost a cleaning, followed by a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, supposing you brought the light inside the polling booth, which you can do either through the curtain or in some other way.

What is at issue here is a potential for violence I think. I for one would not feel safe going to the polls in certain places in the USA. Despite states having laws that prevent wearing political signage this year is far different then any other year. I am concerned.

[Damual Travesty]

7 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

Trump once again proves his ignorance and inability to manage. He did not ask or read up on the law surrounding election. No person carrying arms are allowed in an election voting sight. This is just a brief part of the act (it also states no intimidation). Trump has once again opened his mouth and spoke about something he has no knowledge about,

and he is supposed to be running the country. His sister is right in her summation of her brother Donald.

That does not prevent the police from showing up does it? Of course not. Trump is not a political animal he speaks quickly on what he would like to take place before knowing perhaps the ability to take actions within the laws. Having said that, it would not surprise me the least to see Governors using the state National guard as they see fit , to protect the public. If any violence happens that they were aware of and failed to act upon to protect, they have failed in their duties. Trump has a team constantly advising what he can do and cannot do and he abides.

[ChouDoufu]

12 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

What is at issue here is a potential for violence I think. I for one would not feel safe going to the polls in certain places in the USA. Despite states having laws that prevent wearing political signage this year is far different then any other year. I am concerned.

 

polling place safety is a state/local responsibility.

 

i'm questioning how trump sending stormtroopers to polling stations will prevent fraud, in particular mail-in voter fraud.

 

regarding your other post, the news outlets rightly state trump makes claims without evidence.  trump constantly makes assertions, no evidence provided.  it's usually enough (for him) to append "i heard" or "people are saying."  you'd think it would be enough for the leader of the free world to make a pronouncement and be believed, but, well, history.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, Damual Travesty said:

What is at issue here is a potential for violence I think. I for one would not feel safe going to the polls in certain places in the USA. Despite states having laws that prevent wearing political signage this year is far different then any other year. I am concerned.

Then mail your vote.

[Redline]

11 hours ago, Matzzon said:

In the uSA they really have a way with words. Calling something Homeland Security and after that makes it lack authority to demand and send protection against election fraud in the country. That´s as real as Mickey Mouse and the frickin Disneyland. Good job again!

There are laws and a constitution ????????????????

Your boy doesn’t like them either ????

 

[Damual Travesty]

9 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Then mail your vote.

Even if I mail in my vote it does not end the fear I have of violence in my Country. A real fear. A real sadness. A real sense of despair over the continuing death and mayhem which you seem to think funny.

 

No one has any issues with the traditional form of mail in voting. One requests a ballot from the state, and the state sends the ballot to the requester who then returns his completed ballot.  This is a far cry from a mass mail out of ballots to names and addresses which likely not current which opens the potential for massive voting fraud. Surely as an expert on all things Americana you would understand this.

Edited August 24, 2020 by Damual Travesty
clarity

[rcummings]

57 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

Even if I mail in my vote it does not end the fear I have of violence in my Country. A real fear. A real sadness. A real sense of despair over the continuing death and mayhem which you seem to think funny.

 

No one has any issues with the traditional form of mail in voting. One requests a ballot from the state, and the state sends the ballot to the requester who then returns his completed ballot.  This is a far cry from a mass mail out of ballots to names and addresses which likely not current which opens the potential for massive voting fraud. Surely as an expert on all things Americana you would understand this.

Actually, the State of Texas for one, does have issues with requests for mail-in balloting. You can't ask for a ballot because you fear being infected with covid19. A Texas court upheld the state government's position. There may be other states with similar provisions as well. Surely as an expert on all things Americana you would know this.

[rcummings]

1 hour ago, Damual Travesty said:

We do not have any storm troopers in the USA sir. If you believe that to be true you are either not an American or you are an Anti-American traitor to your own country. One or the other

Do you actually have a clue as to what constitutes treason? Not much of a defender of free speech, are you?

[rcummings]

1 hour ago, Damual Travesty said:

No one has any issues with the traditional form of mail in voting. One requests a ballot from the state, and the state sends the ballot to the requester who then returns his completed ballot.  

Louisiana too.

https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/08/17/louisiana-elections-chief-rolls-back-covid-excuses-mail-ballots/5599084002/

Edited August 25, 2020 by rcummings

[rcummings]

1 hour ago, Damual Travesty said:

No one has any issues with the traditional form of mail in voting. One requests a ballot from the state, and the state sends the ballot to the requester who then returns his completed ballot.  

Tennessee also. 

https://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by rcummings

[heybruce]

19 hours ago, Damual Travesty said:

This statement is a LIE. The Attorney General of the United States has also spoken strongly on the matter. There are multiple examples of issues related to mail in voting. I am really getting tired of news people who make statements like this when they know they are false.

 

The attorney general of the United States is NOT a previous friend of Donald Trump, and if anything you would have expected him to be a never Trumper for serving in the G Bush administration in the same capacity.

 

As we live in an age where many websites are headquartered now in areas of Chinese Communist party control and are quite possibly now infiltrated by Communist party operatives it is necessary for me to be crystal clear in my source here for the Attorney general William Barr's statements. The accusation of making things up comes to quickly and can result in disappearance rather quickly. Hope you get a chance to read this:

https://nypost.com/2020/08/10/william-barr-lawmakers-backing-vote-by-mail-grossly-irresponsible/

https://www.newsweek.com/barr-mail-voting-election-1525057

 

There are plenty of cases all over the place on this issue. Despite all the news outlets stating there is no evidence. There is a war on folks. It's real. And blood is already being shed.

From your second source:

 

"Appearing on Fox News on Thursday night, Barr said mail-in voting plans were "grossly irresponsible" and threatened the integrity of the coming presidential and congressional races, despite research showing little voter fraud takes place among voters using mail-in ballots."

 

So your own source says research shows there is very little voter fraud using mail-in ballots.  Your New York Post source simply repeated Barr's stated concerns, without giving any reason why mail in voting would be any less secure than in-person voting.

 

Barr is simply repeating what Trump wants repeated.

[rcummings]

20 hours ago, Damual Travesty said:

The attorney general of the United States is NOT a previous friend of Donald Trump, and if anything you would have expected him to be a never Trumper for serving in the G Bush administration in the same capacity.

 

This statement is ridiculous unless you posit that Bill Barr is a time traveler and knew that someday Donald Trump would be President. He was as far right as he could be in government when he worked for the first George Bush.

[rcummings]

20 hours ago, Damual Travesty said:

This statement is a LIE. The Attorney General of the United States has also spoken strongly on the matter. There are multiple examples of issues related to mail in voting. I am really getting tired of news people who make statements like this when they know they are false.

 

The attorney general of the United States is NOT a previous friend of Donald Trump, and if anything you would have expected him to be a never Trumper for serving in the G Bush administration in the same capacity.

 

As we live in an age where many websites are headquartered now in areas of Chinese Communist party control and are quite possibly now infiltrated by Communist party operatives it is necessary for me to be crystal clear in my source here for the Attorney general William Barr's statements. The accusation of making things up comes to quickly and can result in disappearance rather quickly. Hope you get a chance to read this:

https://nypost.com/2020/08/10/william-barr-lawmakers-backing-vote-by-mail-grossly-irresponsible/

https://www.newsweek.com/barr-mail-voting-election-1525057

 

There are plenty of cases all over the place on this issue. Despite all the news outlets stating there is no evidence. There is a war on folks. It's real. And blood is already being shed.

And if anyone in government can cite pardoning away justice on their resumé, it's Bill Barr. He was the guy who recommended to George H.W. Bush that the Iran Contra conspirators be pardoned.

 

"The most significant single act of Barr’s career in the Department of Justice was to advise President George H.W. Bush to pardon six officials from Ronald Reagan’s administration, including Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, for crimes associated with the Iran-Contra affair. At the time, Barr was — you guessed it — attorney general. His recommendation gave Bush the cover he needed to issue the pardons."

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-01-10/attorney-general-william-barr-used-pardons-to-protect-president