15 Republican state lawmakers are urging Texas to add Minnesota to a lawsuit alleging election fraud that’s before the Supreme Court. In a letter sent to the Texas Attorney General, the lawmakers say “Secretaries of State across the nation have ignored their state election laws and unilaterally changed the rules that govern elections.” In response, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says “I never thought I’d see the day when elected officials in Minnesota were actively asking the U-S Supreme Court to throw out millions of Minnesota votes.” Simon says the lawmakers calling it an “illegal election” is “really amazing and it’s not only that, it’s dangerous and embarrassing and it’s insulting to Minnesota voters and everyone who worked very hard to put on a safe, clean, secure and honest election.” The Republican lawmakers say Simon violated the state’s election laws and “a troubling pattern has emerged in many states including Minnesota.” Here is the text of the Republicans’ letter.
December 10, 2020
The Honorable Ken Paxton
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
Attorney General Paxton,
We are writing to you in support of your lawsuit regarding the 2020 elections, and request that you include Minnesota in the list of states against whom you are filing suit.
The laws which govern our elections are incredibly important. State legislatures go to great lengths to ensure that fair and reasonable laws exist to maintain the integrity of our elections. As you know, only the elected members of state legislatures are permitted to change these laws. That is how our constitutional government works.
Unfortunately, a troubling pattern has emerged in many states including Minnesota. Secretaries of State across the nation have ignored their state election laws and unilaterally changed the rules that govern elections. We understand that your lawsuit targets these illegal practices which occurred in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This must be addressed, and we support your effort to do so.
Here in Minnesota, similar illegal actions occurred, and our election laws were violated by the Minnesota Secretary of State.
In April, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon came before the Minnesota Legislature and asked for total authority to adjust Minnesota election rules in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota Legislature refused to grant him that authority.
In response to the Minnesota Legislature’s refusal, multiple lawsuits were filed against the State of Minnesota by Democratic groups. These groups demanded that election rules be changed. One of the judges in these cases was a former state political director for Amy Klobuchar. The parties involved in these lawsuits, all Democrats, eventually agreed to a settlement which instituted consent decrees that dramatically changed state election rules.
The Secretary of State is supposed to defend the election laws of Minnesota. Instead of defending our state laws, Secretary Simon allowed our election rules to be changed by Democratic interest groups.
First, the requirement that absentee ballots contain a witness signature was entirely waived. Second, state law governing the assistance of voters was significantly altered. Third, unlimited ballot harvesting was permitted for a certain period of time in total violation of state law. These actions were entirely unconstitutional.
Article 1, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution says that state legislatures are to decide the manner in which elections are held. In addition, Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution says that state legislatures choose the manner in which state presidential electors are appointed. This is very clear. State legislatures determine the laws that govern elections. The Secretary of State is tasked with executing the law, not writing the law. However, Secretary Simon consistently ignored our laws and instituted his own rules.
Furthermore, Article III, Section 1 of the Minnesota Constitution states that the executive branch shall not exercise any of the powers belonging to the legislative branch. Secretary Simon illegally exercised power belonging to the legislative branch by writing his own rules with no regard for the law.
Secretaries of State across the country participated in similar practices in many states. Additionally, one group, Democracy Docket, highlighted election rules that they wanted changed. Democracy Docket then colluded with Secretaries of State and many Democratic interest groups to change election rules to their liking. State legislatures were wrongfully ignored, and constitutional rights were violated. We understand that your lawsuit is an attempt to remedy this situation, and we are very appreciative.
Considering the totality of the circumstances, we believe that Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon knowingly and deliberately conducted an illegal election by virtue of his manipulation of the law. As legislators, we were dismissed and our authority was overruled by an individual that was not interested in following the law.
Unlawful actions by rogue Secretaries of State should not be tolerated. The people deserve elections that are conducted by the laws their state legislatures pass. Therefore, we request that you include the State of Minnesota and Secretary of State Steve Simon in your lawsuit regarding illegal voting practices.
Only through fair elections will the voice of the people be heard.
Sincerely,
Representative Steve Drazkowski Senator Mary Kiffmeyer
District 21B District 30
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Jeremy Munson Senator Mike Goggin
District 23B District 21
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Tim Miller Senator Andrew Mathews
District 17A District 15
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Cal Bahr Senator Mark Koran
District 31B District 32
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Eric Lucero Senator Bill Weber
District 30B District 22
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Mary Franson Senator John Jasinski
District 8B District 24
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Glenn Gruenhagen Senator Rich Draheim
District 18B District 20
Minnesota House of Representatives Minnesota Senate
Representative Shane Mekeland
District 15B
Minnesota House of Representatives