Whitehouse Slams Trump’s Mail-In Ballot Order as ‘Wildly Unconstitutional’

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Criticizes Trump’s Executive Order on Mail-In Ballots

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has strongly criticized a recent executive order issued by former President Donald Trump concerning mail-in ballots. The order, directed to the Postmaster General and the Department of Homeland Security, aims to give these departments control over mail-in ballots. Whitehouse labeled the move “wildly unconstitutional” and a tactic to suppress voters, arguing it is an attempt by Trump to “throw the election.”

Trump’s Executive Order and Mail-In Voting Claims

The executive order, issued by Trump, reportedly instructs the Postmaster General, whom Trump appointed, to seize control of mail-in ballots. It also directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop a method for delivering these ballots only to individuals deemed eligible by the department, as perceived by Trump’s administration. This action comes amid Trump’s repeated claims of widespread fraud in mail-in voting, despite a lack of evidence. A voter in Florida was quoted in the transcript saying, “The cheating on mail-in voting is legendary, it’s horrible what’s going on.” However, Senator Whitehouse pointed out that Trump “never mentions the name of anyone who has ever cheated with a mail-in voting ballot,” suggesting the crime is “essentially a non-existent crime.”

Senator Whitehouse’s “Spines of Foam” Analogy for Republicans

Senator Whitehouse used the colorful phrase “spines of foam” to describe the Republican members of Congress who have supported Trump’s efforts. He suggested that these lawmakers have gone along with Trump’s initiatives, such as the SAVE Act, without critical examination. “His Republican members of Congress, with their usual spines of foam, have gone along with that effort,” Whitehouse stated. He contrasted this with the legal challenges Trump now faces, where he must defend his actions in court against legal scholars and data, rather than relying on the compliance of his party members.

Legal Challenges and Data on Voter Fraud

Whitehouse highlighted that Trump’s executive order makes him vulnerable to lawsuits. He drew a parallel to a previous instance where Trump lost an offshore wind executive order in a court case in Massachusetts. “He lost, for instance, his offshore wind executive order in a case up in Massachusetts. And now he’s going to have to go into court this time, not with spines of foam Republican members of Congress, but into court and try to defend this,” Whitehouse explained. He presented data regarding voter fraud claims, citing an example from Utah where the Republican Lieutenant Governor reviewed two million ballots and found only one person who had registered without proving citizenship, and that person had not voted. This resulted in zero actual fraudulent votes. Similarly, in Kansas, a law aimed at preventing fraud affected 31,000 legitimate voters while addressing only 67 instances of attempted registration without proof of citizenship over nearly 20 years.

Implications and Future Litigation

According to Whitehouse, these factual data points create a much different environment for Trump in court than the one he experiences when seeking support from Republican lawmakers. “So when they get into court and they have to answer to facts like that, it’s a very different environment than if you’re just asking your spines of foam Republicans in Congress to go to the floor and say what they’re told,” he said. Whitehouse expressed anticipation for the upcoming litigation, believing Trump has made a misstep with this executive order. “I think they stepped in it with this one and I’m really looking forward to that litigation,” he concluded.

Senator Whitehouse’s Concerns About Election Integrity

The senator’s remarks underscore a broader concern about attempts to undermine election processes. While the transcript doesn’t detail the specific provisions of the SAVE Act or the full context of the Georgia election records mentioned, Whitehouse’s focus is on what he perceives as Trump’s strategy to challenge election outcomes through executive actions and by influencing his party. The “spines of foam” analogy suggests a lack of independent conviction among Republican politicians, making them susceptible to presidential directives that may not withstand legal scrutiny. The upcoming legal battles are expected to test the constitutionality of Trump’s latest move and shed light on the factual basis for his claims about mail-in voting fraud.

Source: Republicans have 'spines of foam': Sen. Whitehouse torches Trump for latest voter suppression tactic (YouTube)