Moody wants investigation into Bloomberg donations to pay off Florida felons' fines

[brooklynite]

Source: Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking federal and state law enforcement to investigate Michael Bloomberg’s donations to pay off the fines and fees of felons in Florida so they can vote in the upcoming election.

Moody wrote to the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday saying she reviewed a Washington Post article detailing that Bloomberg has raised $16 million to help felons vote in Florida, as well as state laws prohibiting inducements to vote a certain way.

“After preliminarily reviewing this limited public information and law, it appears further investigation is warranted,” Moody wrote. “Accordingly, I request your agencies further investigate this matter and take appropriate steps as merited.”

Statewide prosecutor Nick Cox and U.S. attorney Maria Lopez were copied on the letter as well.



Read more: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-moody-bloomberg-felons-voting-20200923-z524uktndrbjlhhszcuvmxhani-story.html

[sweetloukillbot]

1. So they're admitting it's a poll tax then nt

[jorgevlorgan]

2. Indeed

[Warpy]

3. Bloomberg is making me smile

Moody doesn't have a legal or moral leg to stand on and he knows it. The people of Florida voted to restore voting rights to former felons. Republicans are going against the will of the people, like they always do.

I hope people in Florida are finally getting sick of this garbage from Republicans.

[Bev54]

4. So they don't want all the money being collected??

[Mz Pip]

5. Bloomberg has an army of lawyers.

I’m sure he had this all checked out ahead of time.

[SunSeeker]

6. Moody is full of shit. Bloomberg is not paying the fines in exchange for voting "a certain way."

There is absolutely no inducement to vote a certain way. The felons' fines will be paid off no matter who they vote for. A lot of them will vote for Republicans.

[Dem2theMax]

7. Those GOP'ers sure hate voting and democracy.

GOTV!

[Sierra89]

8. Hopefully Florida Takes The Money

with a smile. Not only will they be able to vote, paying off their fines means they can live without that fine hanging over them. Many will likely be able to get a Driver's License, apply/quailfy for employment, and move onward with their lives. Bloomberg is doing a great thing. I hope to see him do it elsewhere. Spread the love!

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Jess Walker (books editor of libertarian Reason magazine!) sums this up:

Link to tweet

'If I understand the state of Florida's position here, it is: "These fines have nothing to do with voting, so they can't be a poll tax. But if you help people pay them off, you're interfering illegally in an election."'

[Roy Rolling]

10. Nope

Bloomberg knows much better attorneys than the clowns in Florida, plus the law’s on his side.

Get a job.

[obamanut2012]

11. Then they admitted IN WRITING it's a poll tax, and thus illegal

wow

[still_one]

12. no case. He is not telling people who to vote for or even to vote

[csziggy]

13. Bloomberg is donating to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition

Which is a licensed charitable organization under federal law. I just donated to them, I know others who have, for the purpose of paying returning citizens' fines and fees.

Is Ashley Moody going to investigate every single donor to this organization? She will have thousands of people to investigate in that case. My donation was not given to "buy a vote" but was given to allow American Citizens to regain their rights under the amendment passed by a majority of Florida voters.

Fuck these asshole Republicans!