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Texas Attorney General Threatens 'Criminal Prosecution' of U.N. Poll Observers If They Mess With Texas: 'BRING IT
October 25, 2012
"...your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States."
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott talks with the media as he leaves the Tom Green County Courthouse, in San Angelo, Texas. (Credit: AP)
AUSTIN, Texas (TheBlaze/AP) -- Don't mess with Texas elections.
That's the double-down message Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott delivered Thursday to poll watchers affiliated with United Nations who want to come and observe voting on Election Day.
The squabble started after Abbott wrote to the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, threatening to prosecute any of its members who come near a polling location.
"The OSCE may be entitled to its opinions about Voter ID laws, but your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States, where the Supreme Court has already determined that Voter ID laws are constitutional," Abbott wrote.
Abbott concluded his letter by adding that the Texas Election Code governs all election participants and that OSCE officials are not authorized to enter a polling place. He said it "may be a criminal offense for OSCE's representatives to maintain a presence within 100 feet of a polling place's entrance."
"Failure to comply with these requirements could subject the OSCE's representatives to criminal prosecution for violating state law," Abbott wrote.
The OSCE wants to go to Texas this year, like it has to poll locations across the U.S. since 2002.
The group calls Abbott's threat "unacceptable" in a letter to the State Department. Abbott on Thursday tweeted his response: "BRING IT."
UN-related vote monitors warn Texas: Don't mess with us. My response: BRING IT. Official letter to follow reut.rs/WK2dj0
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 25, 2012
The State Department says it has reassured Texas that OSCE will follow state election laws.
Featured image courtesy of shutterstock.com
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