44 states are balking at voter ID demands from Trump's vote-fraud panel. Panel head Kris Kobach calls that number 'fake news.'

Trump and Kris Kobach meet during presidential transition
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

At least 44 states are now declining to fully comply with the demand for sensitive voter information from President Trump's Election Integrity Commission, and the explanations range from hands tied by state law to indignation at the request. "They can go jump in the Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi is a great state to launch from," said Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (R). Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (D) called the "request for the personal information of millions of Marylanders repugnant; it appears designed only to intimidate voters and to indulge President Trump's fantasy that he won the popular vote."

Over the weekend, Trump appeared to take the reluctance to turn over sensitive information personally, tweeting: "Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL. What are they trying to hide?" On Wednesday, the vice chairman of Trump's commission, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, hit back in a slightly different manner.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.