CATHY TRAVIS, (202) 225-7742
HOUSE MEMBERS FROM A VARIETY OF STATES ASK SENATE COMMITTEE TO DENY FEC POSITION
TO PARTISAN HACK FROM JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several Members of the United States House of Representatives sent a letter to a Senate Committee on Tuesday asking Senators to reject the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky – who holds a recess appointment to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) – to serve a full term at the FEC.
U.S. House Members from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas –
all states where illegal redistricting schemes were perpetrated on voters in
this decade – urged Senator Diane Feinstein (Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which will act on von Spakovsky's nomination at a hearing on Wednesday, September 26, at 10am in 301 Russell Building), and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, "to take a strong stand against the damage Hans von Spakovsky did to voting rights and electoral processes around the nation at the Justice Department, when he substituted his short term political judgment for professional, reasoned judgment of longtime attorneys who knew the law and the Constitution."
attorneys who detailed von Spakovsky's aversion to voting rights.
Dear Chairwoman Feinstein and Majority Leader Reid:
On behalf of several states and millions of disenfranchised voters across the
United States, we respectfully ask that the Senate Rules Committee oppose the
appointment of Hans von Spakovsky – who holds a recess appointment to the
Federal Election Commission (FEC) – to serve a full term at the FEC.
By virtue of his actions in the Justice Department, Hans von Spakovsky had
done irreparable damage to the course of democracy and voting rights all over
the United States. This damage invalidates his ability to serve as an FEC
Commissioner. Enclosed with this letter – compiled by six career attorneys at
the Justice Department – is a detailed version of events in which Mr. von Spakovsky personally intervened inappropriately in voting rights matters at the Justice Department.
We implore the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to take a strong
stand against the damage Hans von Spakovsky did to voting rights and electoral
processes around the nation at the Justice Department, when he substituted his
short term political judgment for professional, reasoned judgment of longtime
attorneys who knew the law and the Constitution.
Please oppose Mr. von Spakovsky's nomination to the FEC. If there is any
place (besides the Justice Department) Mr. von Spakovsky should not serve, it is
the Federal Election Commission.
Signatories to the letter included Representatives: Solomon Ortiz, Eddie
Bernice Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee, Ciro Rodriguez, Chet Edwards, Nick Lampson, Silvestre Reyes, Charlie Gonzalez, Lloyd Doggett, and Gene Green (all of Texas); Sanford Bishop, Jim Marshall, and David Scott (all of Georgia); Raul M. Grijalva (of Arizona); Marcy Kaptur (of Ohio); Kendrick B. Meek and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (both of Florida); and Rush Holt , Donald Payne, and
Albio Sires (all of New Jersey).
