**Breaking** At least 6 State AGs consider legal action to protect USPS operations

[hlthe2b]

State officials rush to shore up confidence in Nov. 3 election as voters express new fears about mail voting

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-officials-rush-to-shore-up-confidence-in-nov-3-election-as-voters-express-new-fears-about-mail-voting/2020/08/16/3d511144-df23-11ea-b205-ff838e15a9a6_story.html?tidr=a_breakingnews&hpid=hp_no-name_hp-breaking-news%3Apage%2Fbreaking-news-bar

President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on the U.S. Postal Service amid widespread mail delays across the country are shaking voters’ faith that their ballots will be counted, prompting a rush among federal, state and local officials to protect the integrity of the Nov. 3 election.

Thousands of voters have called government offices in recent days to ask whether it is still safe to mail their ballots, according to officials across the country. Attorneys general from at least six states are huddling to discuss possible lawsuits against the administration to block it from reducing mail service between now and the election, several told The Washington Post. State leaders are scrambling to see whether they can change rules to give voters more options, and Democrats are planning a massive public education campaign to shore up trust in the vote and the Postal Service.

“He is undermining the safest voting method during a pandemic and forcing people to cast a ballot in person,” said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D). “It is reprehensible.”

The race to action comes amid escalating worries that even if the president does not succeed in blocking mail voting, he has created a dangerous crisis of confidence that could jeopardize whether Americans view the eventual outcome as legitimate.

“He has succeeded enough that everybody is working overtime to clean up the mess,” said Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan voting rights group.

Attorneys general from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Washington and North Carolina, among others, have begun discussions on how to sue the administration to prevent operational changes or funding lapses that could affect the election. They expect to announce legal action early this week, according to several involved in the talks.

[hlthe2b]

1. From the same post: Eric Holder (former Obama US AG) is also considering legal action

Eric Holder, who served as U.S. attorney general under President Barack Obama and now leads the anti-gerrymandering group National Democratic Redistricting Committee, is also considering legal action, a spokesman said.

[onetexan]

6. YES! Nail the bastards 45 & Dejoy

Bravo Dems AGs!!

[ananda]

18. WTF, just do it! Now!!!

!!!

[HotTeaBag]

25. Right?

All I'm seeing is that everyone is considering this or considering that.

[Mike 03]

2. They should act without haste, and other states' Attorneys General should join them.

“This is not just terrible policy, but it may be illegal under federal law and other state laws as well,” said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D). “A lot of work is being done literally as we speak over the weekend and at nights to try to figure out what Trump and DeJoy are doing, whether they have already violated or are likely to violate any laws and how we can take swift action to try to stop this assault on our democracy.”

[JudyM]

27. Good, I called Herring's office with a message of urgency about this.

It is freakin fantastic that VA is now blue(-ish)! Not a moment too soon.

[Thomas Hurt]

3. This may be the best avenue to get something done, Barr certainly isn't going to do anything.

[Thekaspervote]

4. Great news!!

[stillcool]

5. Yes!!

getting those ducks lined up. I hope they hit them so hard, with every legal maneuver invented and more.

[Cetacea]

7. "he has created a dangerous crisis of confidence..

that could jeopardize whether Americans view the eventual outcome as legitimate..."

That's what worries me the most.

[Duppers]

10. THIS ⬆⬆

[Hekate]

14. That is the whole point: to de-legitimize whatever outcome there is & have us all fighting over it

...no matter who votes what.

[ResistantAmerican17]

8. Welllllll down here in texjezustan, I'm not hopeful our indicted shitbag AG Paxton

will be doing the right thing.

[LisaL]

9. Good. If this one is arrested and charged, the next one that Trump appoints hopefully will be scared

to do the same shit.

[tableturner]

11. And if they've violated any state laws re: inhibiting mail delivery, criminally charge them!

Might even be able to charge Dejoy in multiple states.

[Hekate]

12. Six AGs? There have to be more than that. Start phoning yours tomorrow.

Really.

[hlthe2b]

13. Others are in discussion, as per the CT AG on Friday night. But ,yeah, call your AG's office

[hlthe2b]

20. Seems like AZ may be coming on soon, too

Link to tweet

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Trump has painted himself into a corner and overturned a hornet's nest!

This has potential to turn sharply against Republicans, but it depends on how they handle it.

But, you know, have they handled anything?

"No tweaks to the USPS in the final year of a President's term"? Mitch?

[davsand]

16. The State AGs can ask for a temporary injunction to stop ANY changes.

I'd think they'd have standing to ask for a temporary injunction to halt any changes to the post office immediately. If a hearing isn't set until after early November, at least the election mail would be protected a bit. As an added bonus, voters will see that in the media and feel voting is protected until after they cast a ballot. Confidence is important!


Laura

[yardwork]

17. I HATE TRUMP FOR THIS.

[catbyte]

19. Come on, Dana Nessel join the suit. Michigan will not be stolen again.

[JudyM]

28. She will, she's among the best! What an amazing time to be an A.G.-- saving our democracy.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Josh Shapiro (PA AG) for the win!

Link to tweet

TEXT

Josh Shapiro
@JoshShapiroPA
Last night I joined @DonLemon to talk about protecting your right to vote. As PA’s AG, I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that our votes are secure, protected, and counted.
12:05 PM · Aug 15, 2020

[bucolic_frolic]

22. I just think this is gold. Trump has handed us a galvanizing issue and we must run it to ground

No fear, no excuses, no hesitation, no doubts. It is time to step on the gas for all we're worth.

[lagomorph777]

32. Yup. For every American, USPS isn't just a "Democrat ballot thing." It's the lifeline.

Even MAGATS depend on it daily.

[Hekate]

23. Call Calif Atty Gen Xavier Becerra -- IF you are a Californian. Phone # here...

Xavier Becerra
Office of the Attorney General.
1300 "I" Street.
Sacramento, CA 95814-2919.
Phone: [phone].

If you are not a Californian, please look up the AG for your state. It took me only a few seconds.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. MD's Brian Frosh will be in this, I am sure. He's been challenging these fuckers since the start.

[TryLogic]

26. It needs to be 50 states versus Trump, Barr, and DeJoy.

Republican governors who refuse will be in serious trouble with essentially all of their voters. At least that is my impression.

[lettucebe]

29. Why only six states?

[Blue Owl]

30. Double K&R

[lagomorph777]

31. Yaaay Virginia! Wahoowa!

[smirkymonkey]

33. Yesss Massachusetts AG Maura Healey!

I knew we could count on you to be out there in front!