A Latino voting rights group requested a federal investigation after volunteers reported Texas authorities raided their homes, seizing phones and computers. The raids are linked to an investigation by the state’s Republican attorney general into alleged voter fraud.
No charges have been filed against any individuals targeted in last week’s searches in the San Antonio area. Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed his office conducted the searches following a referral from a local prosecutor about “allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting” during the 2022 election.
Volunteers whose homes were searched, including an 80-year-old woman who said agents were at her house for two hours and took medicine, her smartphone, and watch, protested outside the attorney general’s office in San Antonio against the raids.
Roman Palomares, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, stated, “We feel like our votes are being suppressed. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
The investigation falls under Paxton’s Election Integrity Unit. Paxton’s office did not respond to emails seeking comment. The federal Justice Department also declined to comment.
At least six members had their homes searched, according to Palomares. This includes Manuel Medina, a San Antonio political consultant, who reported his home was searched for several hours with agents seizing documents, computers, and cellphones. Medina, the former head of the Bexar County Democratic Party, is currently working on Democratic state House candidate Cecilia Castellano’s campaign, whose home was also searched.
Nine officers entered the home of volunteer Lidia Martinez, 80, who expressed confusion about their presence.
“They sat me down and started searching all my house, my storeroom, my garage, kitchen, everything,” Martinez said, adding that they interrogated her about other members, including Medina.
The search warrant instructed officials to search for any documents related to the election and confiscate Martinez’s devices.
“I’m not doing anything illegal,” Martinez told agents. “All I do is help the seniors.”
Voter fraud is rare, typically occurring in isolated instances and generally detected. An investigation found fewer than 475 potential cases of voter fraud out of 25.5 million ballots cast in the six states where Trump and his allies disputed his loss to President Joe Biden.
What Other Media Are Saying
- U.S. News – Latino voting rights group calls for investigation after Texas authorities search homes, citing concerns over potential voter suppression and intimidation during the 2024 elections. (read more)
- Localsyr reports that a Latino voting rights group has called for a federal investigation after Texas authorities searched homes, highlighting concerns about potential voter suppression and civil liberties. (read more)
- ABC News reports that a Latino voting rights group is calling for a federal investigation after Texas authorities raided homes and seized phones and computers from volunteers accused of voter fraud. The group, League of United Latin American Citizens, decries the searches as voter suppression and demands answers. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did Texas authorities raid the homes of Latino voting rights volunteers?
They were investigating allegations of voter fraud and vote harvesting during the 2022 election.
Were any charges filed against the volunteers whose homes were searched?
No, no charges have been filed against any targets of the searches.
How many volunteers had their homes searched?
At least six members had their homes searched.
What did the agents take from the homes during the searches?
Agents seized documents, computers, cellphones, and other personal items.
Is voter fraud common in the United States?
Voter fraud is rare and typically occurs in isolated instances.