A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to get sensitive data about Rhode Island voters.
In her decision, U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy likened the Justice Department’s attempt to get the voter information to a fishing expedition.
In a statement, Secretary of State Gregg Amore said McElroy’s ruling reaffirms his belief that the federal government has no legal right or need for personally identifiable information in voter files.
Amore says keeping this data is a state responsibility and he said Rhode Island keeps the information as accurate as possible.
“The executive branch seems to have no problem taking actions that are clear Constitutional overreaches, regularly meddling in responsibilities that are the rights of the states,” Amore said.
“But the power of our democratic republic, built on three coequal branches of government, is clearer than ever before.”
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Attorney General Peter Neronha represented Amore’s office in the case.
Neronha said rather than upholding the rule of law, the Justice Department is now focused on doing President Trump’s bidding, which, he says, is often baseless or retaliatory.
