An Ohio judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order against Donald Trump's campaign in response to the Ohio Democratic Party's lawsuit claiming Trump supporters planned to "watch" and intimidate minority voters in certain regions of the state, The Associated Press reports. While the original lawsuit also accused the Ohio Republican Party, the state party was ultimately dismissed as a defendant because "there was insufficient evidence that the Ohio Republican Party itself was planning the voter intimidation," Cleveland civil rights attorney Subodh Chandra told ThinkProgress. "Clearly [the judge] thought there was enough evidence about the Trump campaign." The restraining order prevents individuals from intimidating and harassing voters, and anyone found to violate the order could face contempt of court.
Trump's campaign unsuccessfully tried to defend itself by saying it was "absurd" to argue that "essentially half of the electorate … is engaged in a 'conspiracy' to suppress voter turnout." "At one point during Friday's hearing, according to Chandra, Trump's lawyer also tried to allege that Trump's voter fraud message happens all the time. When the judge asked for an example, the lawyer walked back the claim," ThinkProgress writes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Does depopulation threaten humanity?Talking Points Falling birth rates could create a 'smaller, sadder, poorer future'
-
New White House guidance means federal employees could be hearing more religious talk at workThe Explainer Employees can now try to persuade co-workers of why their religion is 'correct'
-
Real-life couples creating real-deal sparks in the best movies to star IRL partnersThe Week Recommends The chemistry between off-screen items can work wonders
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned ParenthoodSpeed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in GazaSpeed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homelessSpeed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White HouseSpeed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for TrumpSpeed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mountsSpeed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK filesSpeed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election lossesSpeed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
