FBI agents have searched the office of an Ohio group that supports voter registration efforts, seizing documents and computer files, a board member of the organization said Friday. The group, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, is based in Cleveland and describes its mission as fighting for criminal justice reform, racial justice, and an expansion of voting rights.

Investigation Details

Prentiss Haney, a board member of the grassroots organization, accused federal agents of using “intimidation tactics and harassment” during the search. The focus of the probe was not immediately clear, but a person familiar with the matter said investigators were examining potential fraud violations. The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment on the investigation.

The Justice Department during President Donald Trump’s administration has launched several legal actions or investigations related to voting or state election operations. The FBI has seized ballots and other records from the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County and Arizona’s Maricopa County, and from the 2024 election in Michigan’s Wayne County.

Background

Allegations of fraud in voter registration efforts are typically investigated by states and usually involve people working for groups that pay for sign-ups. The Justice Department has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia after they refused to hand over detailed voter data that includes dates of birth and partial Social Security numbers.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.