President Trump’s controversial voter fraud commission will not be required to hold a public meeting, a federal judge has ruled.
U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly denied an injunction sought by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to open Wednesday’s meeting to anyone who would like to attend.
According to the administration, it will be livestreamed, which Kollar-Kotelly said is sufficient.
“There is no doubt that the Commission and its request for voter roll information have generated substantial public interest and debate. Nonetheless, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that, absent preliminary injunctive relief, its ability to engage in this public debate would be substantially impaired in a manner that is both ‘certain and great.’ Defendants have represented that, with respect to the July 19 meeting of the Commission, they will disclose the materials that will be used at the meeting. Moreover, the public will be permitted to view the meeting, to submit written comments, and to provide oral comments at subsequent meetings,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote in the ruling.
The American Civil Liberties Union has also filed a complaint saying the commission’s meetings should be public. That complaint says that holding a meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is “generally inaccessible” to the public, violates the law.
Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the commission, is expected to attend Wednesday’s meeting.
Numerous states have said they won’t comply with the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity’s request for voter registrations, which include the last four digits of Social Security numbers and other identifying information. CNN previously reported that 44 states refused to comply with the request by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who serves as vice chair of the commission.
Kobach disputed that number, saying only 14 states and the District of Columbia have refused.
Kobach has asked every state and the District of Columbia for voter registration data including the names, addresses, birthdays, the last four digits of Social Security numbers if they are available, voter history, and other personal information, the Kansas City Star reported.
