ACLU requests records on Iowa share of voter info to Trump voter fraud commission

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa has sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate requesting specifics of President Trump's "voter fraud" commission's communications with the Secretary and records related to the request.

The ACLU nationally is suing the Commission under a federal law designed to endsure public accountability of all advisory committees. Commission meetings have been held in secret, for example.

Pate has said that, in accordance with Iowa law, he will not be sharing private information on Iowa voters with the Commission. He said he will share public information only if it has been properly requested.

THe ALU request doesn't seek either that public or private voter information. Instead, it wants to review communications and records to make sure the Commission complies with all open government rules under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

Mark Stringer, ACLU of Iowa executive director, said that under FACA, the commission must meet publicly and make written records available for public inspection.

“President Trump’s voter fraud commission is worrisome even on its face: It is stacked with people who have made wild exaggerations about election irregularities and their goal is to sell the fabrication that somehow Trump won the 2016 popular vote. It’s also part of a bigger goal of suppressing the vote, especially of low-income people, people of color, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. The FOIA request is a small part of making sure that doesn’t happen," he said.