Supreme Court could put new limits on voting rights lawsuits
Eight years after carving the heart out of a landmark voting rights law, the Supreme Court is looking at putting new limits on efforts to combat racial discrimination in voting.
Voting
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Trump calls for GOP unity, repeats false claims about election loss
Taking the stage for the first time since leaving office, former President Donald Trump called for GOP unity, even as he exacerbated intraparty divisions by attacking fellow Republicans and promoted false claims about the election in a speech that made clear he intends to remain a dominant political force.
Democrats launch sweeping bid to overhaul US election laws
Stacey Abrams, whose voting rights work helped make Georgia into a swing state, exhorted Congress on Thursday to reject “outright lies” that have historically restricted access to the ballot as Democrats began their push for a sweeping overhaul of election and ethics laws.
Evansville nurse, husband charged in connection with Capitol riot
An Evansville nurse and her husband who were accused of participating in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot were arrested Tuesday, the FBI said.
Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breach
Missed intelligence was to blame for the outmanned Capitol defenders’ failure to anticipate the violent mob that invaded the iconic building and halted certification of the presidential election on Jan. 6, the officials who were in charge of security that day said in their first public testimony on the insurrection.
SCOTUS rejects Trump election cases, will circulate Indy lawyer’s appeal
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a handful of cases related to the 2020 election, including disputes from Pennsylvania that had deeply divided the justices just before the election. Still pending before the high court is a petition from an Indianapolis law firm for the high court to take up an appeal of former President Donald Trump’s Wisconsin election loss.
AG Rokita declined to sign bipartisan letter condemning Capitol attack
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, whose Valentine’s Day social media tweet alluding to a stolen election post briefly drew a Twitter warning, declined weeks earlier to sign a nearly universal statement of attorneys general condemning the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol. Separately, the Republican AG is facing calls for records surrounding his decision to remain employed as an adviser to a private company while also holding statewide elected office.
AG Rokita swings back after Twitter slap
After Twitter flagged his Valentine’s Day tweet alleging election fraud, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is doubling down, repeating his claims while offering no proof, asserting the tech giant is censoring his freedom of speech and voicing his support for legislation that would give the Statehouse more power in changing the state’s election laws.
Indy lawyer seeks to keep Trump election challenge alive at SCOTUS
As the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on a count of incitement of insurrection began Tuesday, his Indianapolis lawyer who asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn election results in Wisconsin pleaded anew for the high court to keep the case alive because Trump may run again for president.
Lawmakers reject no-excuse absentee voting, other election amendments
At least 13 bills dealing with election and voting have been introduced into the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly, but only three have received a hearing and none are addressing calls by Democrats for expanded absentee voting and easier access to early voting.
Voting company files $2.7B suit against Fox, Giuliani over election fraud claims
A voting technology company is suing Fox News, three of its hosts and two former lawyers for former President Donald Trump — Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell — for $2.7 billion, charging that the defendants conspired to spread false claims that the company helped “steal” the U.S. presidential election.
Trump rejects Democrats’ request to testify at impeachment trial
House Democrats asked Donald Trump to testify under oath for his Senate impeachment trial, challenging him to respond to their charge that he incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol. A Trump adviser said the former president won’t testify.
Bill to alter Lake, St. Joseph judicial selection rankles local bench, bar
Legal professionals in Lake and St. Joseph counties are raising serious concerns about advancing legislation that would change the structure of the local judicial nominating commissions that shape the state trial court judiciary in the northern Indiana counties.
State ordered to pay attorney fees in election security lawsuit
Attorneys who represented the National Election Defense Coalition in a lawsuit seeking information about the security of Indiana’s voting machines have been awarded nearly $50,000 in fees and costs after a Marion Superior judge found the plaintiff had substantially prevailed in the case.
House sending Trump impeachment to Senate, GOP opposes trial
As the US House of Representatives prepares to bring the impeachment charge against Donald Trump to the Senate for trial, a growing number of Republican senators say they are opposed to the proceeding, dimming the chances that former president will be convicted on the charge that he incited a siege of the U.S. Capitol.
Democrats ask ethics panel to investigate Sens. Cruz, Hawley
Seven Democratic senators on Thursday asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate the actions of Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley “to fully understand their role” in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Indiana prosecutor at Trump rally says she paid for her trip
After releasing a letter affirming she attended former President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 rally in Washington, D.C., that preceded a violent assault on the nation’s Capitol, Lynn Deddens, prosecutor for Dearborn and Ohio counties, is not answering questions or responding to calls from some for her resignation.
On Day One, Biden to undo Trump policies on climate, virus
In his first hours as president, Joe Biden will aim to strike at the heart of President Donald Trump’s policy legacy, signing a series of executive actions that will reverse his predecessor’s orders on immigration, climate change and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden takes the helm as president: ‘Democracy has prevailed’
Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that “democracy has prevailed.” He swore the oath of office to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.
Pence returning to Columbus hometown after Biden inaugural
Vice President Mike Pence will be returning to his southern Indiana hometown of Columbus on Wednesday afternoon following the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.