Federal judge cites 'phantom fears of foreign malfeasance' in dismissing Pa. GOP lawmakers' suit
A federal judge threw out a lawsuit Tuesday by six Republican Pennsylvania members of Congress that sought to set aside military absentee ballots claiming they were vulnerable to fraud by foreign operatives.
U.S. District Judge Christopher C. Conner in Harrisburg granted a motion to dismiss the case by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, who argued the suit was baseless and appeared to be intended to sow confusion about the upcoming presidential election.
The suit claimed Pennsylvania Department of State guidelines that say military voters and their spouses are exempt from voter identification and eligibility verification requirements violate the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
Conner, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, said the congressmen waited until it was too late to file the suit, lacked standing, failed to include county boards of elections as defendants and did not state a viable reason for the court to grant an injunction.
https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/pennsylvania-overseas-ballots-federal-judge-cites-phantom-fears-of-foreign-malfeasance-in-dismissing-pa-gop-lawmakers-suit/