Why Is Florida's Top Lawyer Pushing for Minnesota's Voter Data?

Florida's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has stirred up controversy by demanding that Minnesota hand over its sensitive voter registration records. This request comes at a tense time, as Minneapolis deals with issues related to immigration enforcement. Bondi's move has raised eyebrows, with some calling it a form of extortion. The Justice Department has already sued Minnesota and 23 other states for similar data, claiming they need it to clean up voter rolls. However, critics, including former DOJ attorneys and a federal judge, are skeptical about the administration's true intentions. They worry that the data could be used for more than just cleaning up voter rolls. During a recent court hearing, a judge questioned whether the administration was trying to force its way through the backdoor after facing resistance in the courts. The DOJ defended its actions, stating it was simply enforcing federal law. Meanwhile, Minnesota's Secretary of State, Steve Simon, has refused to hand over the data, citing privacy laws. Simon described Bondi's letter as a "ransom note, " received just hours after a tragic incident involving ICE agents in Minneapolis. Adrian Fontes, Arizona's Democratic secretary of state, compared the situation to organized crime, stating that this is not how America should operate.Bondi's letter did not explicitly promise any changes in immigration policies in exchange for the voter records. Instead, it emphasized the need to restore law and order in Minneapolis. The Justice Department pointed to Bondi's comments, blaming Minnesota officials for inviting trouble through their sanctuary city policies. The White House has argued that the Justice Department has the authority to ensure states comply with federal election laws. They claim that President Trump is committed to ensuring accurate and up-to-date voter rolls, free of errors and non-citizen voters. However, the DOJ's data-gathering campaign has faced setbacks in court. A federal judge in California recently dismissed the department's lawsuit against the state, warning against the unbridled consolidation of election powers in the executive branch. A judge in Oregon also rejected the DOJ's arguments. Amid these court losses, Bondi's push for Minnesota's voter data seems desperate, according to David Becker, a former DOJ attorney. Even Republican-led states have been hesitant to hand over their voter rolls, with only 14 states complying so far. The administration's desire to take a more direct role in maintaining voter lists comes as a revamped data tool, SAVE, raises concerns. This tool, used to verify immigration and citizenship status, has been expanded to include Social Security and passport data. However, questions persist about its accuracy and potential impact on eligible voters.