A restraining order was issued by a federal judge in Phoenix on Tuesday night against a group that had been taking pictures and videos of voters casting ballots at Arizona drop boxes.
According to the ruling, Clean Elections USA is not allowed to be within 250 feet of drop boxes while “openly” carrying guns or “visibly wearing body armor.” The group’s members are also forbidden by Liburdi’s injunction from photographing, filming, following, or screaming at voters within 75 feet of drop box locations.
Additionally, he instructed the founder of the group, Melody Jennings, to publish a message to her account on Truth Social, the social media website run by former President Donald Trump, saying, in part: “It is not always unlawful to deposit several ballots in a ballot drop box. The ballot of a member of your family, your household, or someone for whom you provide care may be deposited.
Voters in Maricopa County were allegedly subjected to “intimidation and harassment” by the group and its founder while they cast their ballots. The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino filed the complaint.
After several alerts about potential voter intimidation in the crucial state, the restraining order was issued.
Arizona’s secretary of state, Katie Hobbs, who is also running for governor, revealed last week that after receiving “several complaints” from voters who claimed to have been recorded and had their license plates photographed as they cast ballots, her office had forwarded six reports of potential voter intimidation to the state attorney general’s office and the U.S. Justice Department for further investigation.
The restraining injunction requested by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino was denied by Liburdi on Friday. At the time, he stated: “While this case undoubtedly raises important issues, the Court cannot enact an injunction without going against the First Amendment.”
Liburdi stated last week: “Plaintiffs have not given the Court with any proof that Defendants’ conduct constituted a true threat.”
