A federal judge presiding over a voter intimidation lawsuit that the Ohio Democratic Party brought against Republicans said in a hearing in the case Friday issued a restraining order against the Donald Trump campaign, former Trump adviser Roger Stone, and Stone’s group Stop the Steal.
U.S. District Judge James Gwin’s order blocks the Trump campaign and Stone “from conspiring to intimidate, threaten, harass, or coerce voters on Election Day.”
The judge did not issue a restraining order against the Ohio Republican Party, who the Democrats also sued in the complaint, as he said at the hearing on the case Friday that he did not see enough evidence against the Ohio GOP to merit it, according to Cleveland.com.
Rather than issue a “broad and indefinite injunctive order,” Gwin said, his injunction applied specifically to the types of voter intimidation that constitutes a violation of Ohio state code. He went on to list a number of such behaviors, including loitering by polling places, unauthorized monitoring within the 100 foot buffer zone around election sites, admonishing or harassing voters, and photographing or otherwise recording people coming into and out of the buffer zones.
The judge also said that “other individuals or groups, including groups associated with the Clinton for Presidency campaign” are blocked from engaging in those kinds of activities as well.
One civil rights lawyer present at Friday’s hearing recounted how the Trump campaign’s attorney struggled to explain the GOP nominee’s rhetoric warning of voter fraud.
.@OHDems @DemNational lawyer in fed ct Cleve: @GOP @realDonaldTrump inciting people to polls w racially charged appeals to act as vigilantes
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
US Dist Judge Gwin to @realDonaldTrump lawyer: why would Trump make baseless statements re fraud unless it’s to impede voters from voting?
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
US Dist Judge Gwin to @realDonaldTrump lawyer: why would Trump say “you know what I mean” re watching polls? Trump lawyer unintelligible.
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
OH @GOP Party exec dir claims in fed ct not to know what Trump means by exhorting people to “watch” polls saying “you know what I mean.”
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
US Dist Judge Gwin asks @realDonaldTrump lawyer to explain Trump’s theory re voter fraud when voters provide ID & sign sheet. Lawyer can’t.
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
Judge Gwin to Trump lawyer: what’s the purpose of Trump’s statements if not to stir up voters to intimidate voters? Trump lawyer babbles.
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
Trump lawyer claim Trump’s voter-fraud message happens all the time. Judge Gwin demands example. Trump lawyer walks back the claim.
— (((Subodh Chandra))) (@SubodhChandra) November 4, 2016
The Ohio lawsuit is one of six complaints alleging voter intimidation tactics state Democratic parties filed against Republicans this week. A separate legal action against the Republican National Committee is also ongoing, with the Dems alleging violations of a longstanding consent decree limiting RNC involvement in so-called “ballot security” activities
Read the order below:
