Citing concerns about voter intimidation, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-18) and the conservative King Street Patriots have made separate requests to the Department of Justice for election day poll monitors.
In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder early Thursday, Jackson Lee said she was seeking the monitors to ensure a safe and neutral voting environment during the November 2 election.
“Although there are usually a few isolated occurrences of voter intimidation during the election season, the incidents that took place at polling places earlier this week appeared to be organized and systemic,” wrote Congresswoman Jackson-Lee. “The group thought to be behind these acts is known as the King Street Patriots, reportedly tied to some Tea Party activists.”
Not to be outdone, the King Street Patriots also sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking for federal election monitors.
“We are so concerned about these attacks against volunteer poll-watchers, most of whom are stay-at-home moms or elderly, that we have asked the Justice Department to help and even attend True the Vote poll watcher trainings,” said Jonathon Saenz, an attorney with the Liberty Institute.
The letters were sent on the same day that Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman and County Attorney Vince Ryan held a news conference to discuss allegations of voter intimidation.
Both officials confirmed that their offices have received about sixty complaints of election code violations, however, none has been substantiated.
I’ve left a message with the Department of Justice seeking a comment about the requests for monitors.
Mary Benton Media 
[…] a copy of the letter she sent to AG Eric Holder are here. Amusingly, the King Street Patriots have made a similar request. To protect them from the voters they’re harassing, I guess. I don’t have their press […]