NEW: Documents we obtained raise significant questions about the accuracy of statements a local Pennsylvania official made to a state Senate committee regarding a 2020 election audit. americanoversight.org/discrepancies-…
On September 8, 2021, Fulton County Commissioner Stuart Ulsh offered sworn testimony to the Pennsylvania Senate’s Intergovernmental Operations Committee regarding a review of the 2020 election in the county.
In his testimony, Ulsh denied being aware of Penn. State Senator Doug Mastriano’s involvement with the election review conducted by the contractor Wake TSI. The company was later involved in the Arizona “audit.”
But on Dec. 31, 2020 County Elections Director Patti Hess texted Ulsh & the other county commissioners a screenshot of a document with Wake TSI’s logo and wrote, “Sent by Senator Mastriano all counties are to do this or be [subpoenaed] to prove votes.”
Ulsh also suggested that the review was voluntary, testifying that in an alleged conversation with Sen. Judy Ward regarding the proposed review, “[Senator Ward] just asked me if I would...be interested or if I had any thoughts of doing an investigation of our election.”
The Dec. 31 text message from Hess seems to contradict that claim.
Additionally, in that same text chain, Ulsh said the review “was happening this way or in a subpoena.” documentcloud.org/documents/2108…
In his testimony, Ulsh also stated that all three Fulton County Commissioners had agreed to the Wake TSI review.
However, the same text chain indicates that Commissioner Shives, the only Democratic commissioner, was excluded from conversations regarding Wake TSI’s inspection. Shives repeatedly indicated she was unaware that a review had been approved, planned, or conducted.
These potential discrepancies between Ulsh’s testimony and records we uncovered are especially concerning because Ulsh was the sole witness before the Committee on a matter that has garnered national attention.
The Trump admin. has taken aim at public education. But the far-right incursion into public schools has been happening at the state level for years — especially in Florida.
Here’s what we’ve uncovered about the harmful effects of Gov. DeSantis’ education policies.
In 2022, Florida adopted a slew of laws upending public education by mandating reviews of books for prohibited content, allowing parents greater ability to challenge classroom lessons, and barring instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for certain grade levels.
These laws have left educators and others uncertain and confused, unleashing a chilling effect that has made teachers’ jobs harder and limited what children can learn.
The public’s right to know is under unprecedented threat. For years, we’ve remained steadfast in our commitment to exposing the truth and protecting public access to information so that the people can hold government accountable. americanoversight.org/celebrating-am…
Since last year’s Sunshine Week, we have had several victories for transparency at both the national and state level.
In May, an appeals court ruled in our favor in a years-old case regarding the release of records about 2017 efforts to weaken the ACA. americanoversight.org/democracy-forw…
The ruling made clear that agencies couldn’t use what is known as the “consultant corollary” to evade public disclosure of records when supposed “consultants” (in this case, Congress) have their own interests at stake when it comes to agency decision-making.
We’re pleased that our lawsuit for records from the federal investigation of Matt Gaetz was a key part of the public pressure that led to his decision to withdraw from attorney general consideration. americanoversight.org/statement-from…
Gaetz’s withdrawal is a clear indication that public demand for information and a transparent process will remain a powerful force for holding leaders accountable. Through our litigation, we will continue to demand answers about the alleged conduct of Mr. Gaetz.
Earlier this week, we filed a motion for preliminary injunction in our ongoing lawsuit for the release of interview records, known as “302s,” from the FBI’s investigation of Gaetz for serious criminal allegations, including sex trafficking of a minor. documentcloud.org/documents/2534…
We recently launched an investigation into efforts to undermine direct democracy and sabotage abortion access ballot measures, which will be considered by voters in ten states this November. #FoiaFriday americanoversight.org/investigation/…
Since 2022, 7 states have protected abortion rights through ballot initiatives.
In November, 10 states will have initiatives related to abortion rights on their ballots: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota.
In addition to a litany of lawsuits from conservative activists challenging the qualifying status of abortion-related ballot measures, legislators in many states have proposed laws that would change the requirements for ballot initiatives to make passage more difficult.
Records we obtained from Missouri show how state Sen. Mike Moon — a staunchly anti-abortion rights legislator — has sought to subvert the state’s measure related to abortion rights by trying to amend the ballot initiative process. americanoversight.org/document/recor…
Earlier this year, 380,000 Missourians signed a petition to put an abortion rights constitutional amendment on the ballot. In response, conservatives in the state pushed a bill that would have made it much harder to pass any constitutional amendment via a ballot initiative.
The documents show that Moon’s policy director directly tied Moon’s support for adding a concurrent majority measure to initiative petitions to his desire to defeat the measure. His chief of staff suggested collaborating with an anti-abortion rights group to defeat the amendment.
Floridians will vote in November on a ballot measure that would overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.
Conservative lawmakers and interest groups have been working to make it harder for the measure and citizen initiatives like it to pass. americanoversight.org/investigation/…
Republican officials drafted a financial statement to accompany the measure. The statement argues that the measure’s passage would lead to fewer births, which would hurt the state’s growth and revenue over time. nbcmiami.com/news/local/fin…
The financial statement speculates that the measure’s passage would result in expensive litigation.
Abortion rights groups have filed lawsuits to prevent this language from appearing on the ballot.