Judge Throws Out First Case in Arrests Under DeSantis 'Election Crime' Bureau

[CatWoman]

Florida Circuit Court Judge Milton Hirsch has thrown out the first case brought against a defendant arrested under the authority of the “Election Crime” office created by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The governor’s Office of Election Crimes and Security made headlines and gained viral infamy this week when The Tampa Bay Times published shocking police body-cam video of some of the arrests that were made on the bureau’s orders.

Just days later, the first of those arrests to come before a judge has resulted in a dismissal. From The Guardian:

A Miami judge on Friday dismissed one of the 19 voter fraud prosecutions loudly trumpeted by Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, a significant development that comes as the cases draw scrutiny.

The case on Friday involved Robert Lee Wood, a 56-year-old Miami man who registered to vote in 2020 and voted in the presidential election last year. State prosecutors indicted Wood, saying he registered and voted knowing he was ineligible. He was ineligible because he was convicted in 1991, but Wood said he did not know that. He registered in 2020 when he was approached by a canvasser and was sent a voter registration card by the state.

Judge Milton Hirsch dismissed the case on Friday, according to Larry Davis, Wood’s attorney.

The arrests in question occurred on August 18th, after which DeSantis called a press conference to brag about the roundup, telling the assembled reporters “They’re going to pay the price.”

https://www.mediaite.com/news/dismissed-judge-throws-out-first-case-in-arrests-under-desantis-election-crime-bureau/

[viva la]

1. The Dems should do a commercial-- showing the black voters in 1955 getting arrested

And then show that video of the current black voter who was arrested for voting--

"Ron Desantis wants to criminalize voting by black people again!"

Because that's what he's doing.

[blm]

3. Exactly.

[CatWoman]

7. i hope Charlie Christ jumps on this

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. Political malpractice if they don't.

[FoxNewsSucks]

12. Wouldn't be the first time for that,

unfortunately.

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. Nope.

[2naSalit]

2. Good.

I do hope these wronged individuals sue that rat bastard for things like defamation and abuse of power among other possible charges.

[Samrob]

5. Why do we learn more important political stuff from the Guardian than from our own media?

They eventually catch up with the Guardian but damn...timing is everything!

[CatWoman]

6. Because we don't actually have "our own media"

[Native]

8. +1

[gab13by13]

9. +2

[KPN]

11. +3

[FoxNewsSucks]

13. Because they're not really "catching up".

It takes longer to decide on the spin, and get the memos out, than it does to simply convey a story truthfully.

I noticed the same thing back in the Air America days. All the hosts, from Hartmann to Malloy, would talk about the day's events. RIght away. After a day or two delay, you'd see some of those things on Fox or hear it on AM hate radio. It took time for them to decide how to spin and push anything "bad" for republicons or "good" for Democrats.

[jayschool2013]

17. It's in the South Florida papers

But keep spouting vitriol at journalists. It's super easy and fun, I'm sure!!

[FoxNewsSucks]

23. I did no such thing.

My comments are about American media, which is almost entirely owned by rightwing corporations and billionaires.

Before jumping all over everyone again, might I suggest comparing the slant present on the story in American sources and that from the Guardian. Then remember that it's the editors (who answer to owners) that have the final say on what is covered and how.

[jayschool2013]

16. Here's a story from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Read it in OUR media.

But keep on bashing American journalists if you'd like. It's more fun than actually Googling something, I'm sure.

[jayschool2013]

19. CNN has it

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/21/politics/florida-voting-fraud-case-dismissed/index.html

[jayschool2013]

20. The Orlando Sentinel has it

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/fl-ne-election-fraud-dismissed-20221021-arm243hfa5c3ronpjdayhdhg24-story.html

[Alexander Of Assyria]

22. Seems the State Special Inquisitor forgot about his own jurisdiction....ooops!

Wood’s attorney, Larry Davis, argued (successfully it appears), that the statewide prosecutor did not have jurisdiction.

The statewide prosecutor is restricted by law to prosecuting crimes, including voting, involving two or more judicial circuits. Those crimes are usually “complex, often large scale, organized criminal activity,” according to its website.

This is a big fkon deal folks!

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article267659012.html#storylink=cpy

[jayschool2013]

21. The Associated Press has it

https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-ron-desantis-miami-elections-7d722c899ed1132f26853fd747acb4a2

[Quanto Magnus]

10. ok, this is a little Q-ish

buuuut....

were these people set up for this very thing by the DeScumbag admin??

[Cha]

14. Fucking Gestapo de Sadist.

[LymphocyteLover]

24. Thank god