The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 7, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Trump election lawyer Jenna Ellis made a cooperation deal in Arizona’s fake elector investigation, while Arizona election officials scramble to find polling places after school districts, fearing election violence, opt out.
Arizona’s attorney general indicted 18 alleged fake electors in April, though only 11 currently face prosecution. Ellis, along with other Trump associates Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and Boris Epshteyn and others, were charged with intent to commit fraud, changing votes of an elector, tampering with a public record and presenting a false document. The Ellis cooperation deal shields her from prosecution in Arizona. In Georgia, she pleaded guilty in exchange for 5 years of probation, restitution, and 100 hours of community service.
While the fake elector scheme fallout continues, so it does for voter intimidation actions of Arizona extremists. School districts are refusing to allow facilities to be used as polling places, fearing violence or intimidation. A Washington Post analysis of Maricopa County shows schools comprised 37% of polling places in 2016. That’s down to 14% for 2024, sending election officials scrambling to rent replacement venues – and costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. One Scottsdale official quoted by the Post said, “It just takes one flash point to ignite something that’s catastrophic, and I absolutely don’t want that to happen on any one of my campuses.”
We’ve linked to more on Arizona at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Arizona Attorney General – Indictment of Alleged Fake Elector Scheme Participants
American Democracy Minute – Twelve Alleged Arizona Fake Electors Arraigned; Trump Remains an Unindicted Co-Conspirator
Arizona Mirror – Jenna Ellis, former Trump attorney, cuts deal with prosecutors in AZ fake electors criminal case
Washington Post – (Possible paywall) With voting under attack, Arizona schools don’t want to be polling locations
Salon – In Arizona, schools are now targets of election misinformation, spurring fears of violence
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – The cases against fake electors and where they stand/
Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, CREW, Common Cause
Check Your Voter Registration
- USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
- Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
- Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ArizonaNews #FakeElectors