DOJ Joins Georgia Voter Intimidation Lawsuit Against Right-wing Group True the Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, Dec. 19, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accepted a Georgia court’s request to join proceedings in Fair Fight v. True the Vote, a two-year long lawsuit alleging that the right-wing group True the Vote engaged in voter intimidation. Fair Fight, the Georgia-based voting rights organization founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, sued True the Vote in December 2020 alleging voter intimidation in violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). Among other actions, the lawsuit focuses on True the Vote’s attempt to challenge the eligibility of over 350,000 Georgia voters ahead of the Senate runoff election in January 2021.
In October 2022, the federal district court judge presiding over this multi-year case asked the DOJ about its “position as to intervention” in this lawsuit after the defendants questioned the constitutionality of Section 11(b). Yesterday, the DOJ notified the court that it will exercise “its right to intervene in this proceeding to defend the constitutionality of Section 11(b)” of the VRA. The DOJ will submit a brief in the case by Jan. 17, 2023 and participate in a hearing scheduled for early February.