Coronavirus Accountability and Voting Rights Update
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While the Trump administration is shifting its focus to other matters, American Oversight continues to push for accountability in the response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It is critically important that we have the information we need to stay healthy and prepared to face the real threats to our safety and rights in 2020.
On Tuesday, American Oversight filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department, State Department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services seeking emails sent by top officials regarding Covid-19 and other aspects of the early stages of the outbreak. You can read the complaint here: American Oversight Sues for Coronavirus Communications. This is our fourth lawsuit investigating the administration’s inadequate response to the pandemic.
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Accountability Updates in Georgia
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With states around the country rushing to “reopen,” we’ve been investigating actions of governors — including Governor Brian Kemp in Georgia — and our investigation is moving quickly. Just twenty days after we submitted the initial request, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on emails we uncovered that showed Kemp’s office dismissing concerns of local officials and reopening a public beach.
Other recent requests in Georgia include:
- Request to the Georgia Department of Public Health seeking directives addressing the agency’s failure to record demographic data of covid-19 patients, which reduced the ability of national health experts to evaluate whether the virus is disproportionately affecting communities of color.
- Request to the Georgia Attorney General seeking communications related to the creation of the state’s newly-announced Absentee Ballot Fraud Task Force.
- Request to seeking communications with USPS officials related to recent misprinted ballots sent by the Office of the Secretary of State to Troup County
You can read about our current initiatives to protect voting rights during the pandemic here.
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We cannot sustain this fight for accountability alone. We need your help to ensure our leaders put public health first and take the necessary steps to conduct safe, fair, and accurate elections. If you are able, please consider a contribution today to support accountability during the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you!
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ICYMI: Last month, American Oversight’s Chief Oversight Counsel Molly Claflin joined a panel to discuss how we are on the front lines of law and accountability. Video available here.
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