Texas Says It's Challenging Election Results at U.S. Supreme Court

[BlueWavePsych]

Source: Bloomberg

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he’s suing Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin directly in the U.S. Supreme Court, accusing the battleground states of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to illegally enact last-minute changes to mail-in voting rules.

Paxton, an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, claims the states “flooded their people with unlawful ballot applications and ballots” and ignored rules for how mail-in ballots were to be counted, according to a press release announcing the litigation. The allegations echo those made by Trump and his allies in dozens of lawsuits filed in the same swing states following President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.

*snip*

“The motion filed by the Texas attorney general is a publicity stunt, not a serious legal pleading,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “The erosion of confidence in our democratic system isn’t attributable to the good people of Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia or Pennsylvania but rather to partisan officials, like Mr. Paxton, who place loyalty to a person over loyalty to their country.”

*snip*

Paxton “is constitutionally, legally and factually wrong about Georgia,” Katie Byrd, spokeswoman for the state’s attorney general, Chris Carr, said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-08/texas-says-challenging-election-results-in-u-s-supreme-court

---

Good luck with that.
We'll turn Texas BLUE the next time around.

[catbyte]

1. And what exactly is their standing to sue? They should be sanctioned for filing frivolous lawsuits.

[BlueWavePsych]

4. Frivolous and irritating longshot

In new lawsuit, Texas contests election results in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania

The last-minute bid, which legal experts have already characterized as a longshot, comes alongside dozens of similar attempts by President Donald Trump and his political allies. The majority of those lawsuits have already failed.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, officials in most states and U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr have said. Biden won in all four states where Paxton is challenging the results.

Officials in Georgia — where Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recertified the state's election results again Monday after a recount — were quick to dismiss Paxton's allegations.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel dismissed Paxton's suit as "a publicity stunt, not a serious legal pleading."

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/08/texas-ken-paxton-election-georgia/

[elleng]

24. I'm with Georgia and Michigan, and whomever else challenges this, 'not serious.'

States rarely sue eachother (imo.)

'Interested' to see Texas' complaint.

I foresee procedural difficulties.

'“These flaws cumulatively preclude knowing who legitimately won the 2020 election and threaten to cloud all future elections,” Texas said in a motion seeking high court approval to file the suit. . .

Paxton, who is seeking an order that would block electors from the four states from participating, requested an expedited briefing schedule requiring the defendant states to file briefs on Wednesday and oral arguments to be heard on Friday.'

[Javaman]

37. what I find amazing is that anyone still believes anything sociopath paxton says. nt

[oldsoftie]

28. They're claiming a violation of the "equal protection" clause. nt

[apnu]

32. So states rights are out the window?

Texas is seriously trying to argue a state's right to choose its own election process is illegal?

Texas thinks it is the Federal government now?

[oldsoftie]

57. Well, not really. The laws state that the Legislature is who changes election law.

And in these states, changes were made without legislative input. So they say those states illegally changed the law. Which they may have. But I just dont see the court, even THIS court, tossing out votes made in good faith. The change in the law didnt affect anyones decision on HOW they voted; they didnt give out candidate info. But the court may well rule that "This cant happen again".
All the above is just my opinion, but thats how I see it.

[NutmegYankee]

64. The changes were made based on laws passed by legislature.

Even the laws modified by governors invoking the public health emergency powers are derived from the legislature and delegated by their consent.

Publicity stunt to get a pardon.

[Cha]

52. What does that mean.. sorry, I

don't understand that.

TY!

[oldsoftie]

58. Its a stretch. They're saying their votes arent equal because the other states changed the rules.

See above for my take. Opinion only, i'm not a lawyer or constitutional expert

[Cha]

59. TY.. that's more than I understood.

[oldsoftie]

60. Here's the actual wording & the states responses:

https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/12/texas-tries-hail-mary-to-block-election-outcome/

[Cha]

67. TY! There's this reaction, too..

63. 2nd Prof:"probably the dumbest case I've ever seen filed on an emergency basis at the Supreme Court"

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2644158

[oldsoftie]

70. HA!!!!

[L.Pharmstrong]

61. I think you mean jurisdiction?

The Supreme Court does have original jurisdiction (i.e. authority to hear a case in the first instance rather than on appeal) over disputes between states pursuant to Article 3, section 2 of the Constitution and 28 USC 1251. This case won’t go far. It’s political grandstanding.

[catbyte]

62. How has Texas been hurt by the voting practices of GA, MI, PA & WI?

That Dear Leader wasn't elected? I don't get it.

[L.Pharmstrong]

74. Haven't read the pleadings.

Have you?

Even without seeing a complaint, I can articulate a straight-faced argument that the votes of residents of my state (any state) were diluted when other states allowed voting that somehow failed to comply with Constitutional standards. An AG therefore would have standing under the doctrine of Parens Patriae. The argument would be crap and turn the concept of federalism on its head, but that has never stopped Republicans before notwithstanding all of their rhetoric.

My strong suspicion is that this is political grandstanding by a dirty Texas Attorney General who is being investigated by the FBI and wants a Presidential pardon. https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-austin-texas-crime-f8413d14842d848e69cf81bb4d2e87e2, https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/03/texas-ken-paxton-bribery-investigation/. This will go away quickly. And Paxton will likely get his pardon unfortunately.

[Paladin]

2. If lowlife thug Paxton is doing your dirty work, you're really in trouble.

He shouldn't even have a law license anymore, given all the crap he's rightfully accused of doing.

[SledDriver]

3. Would they still be taking these actions if Trump had won?

I would like that question to be asked.

I would also like to know why they aren’t suing the states Trump did win on the same grounds.

[oldsoftie]

27. Were the laws changed without the legislatures in any of those states?

[BainsBane]

53. of course not.

[weissmam]

5. Shouldn't Paxton either be in jail

or begging Trump for a Pardon

[Mr.Bill]

43. Begging for a pardon

is exactly what he's doing with this lawsuit.

[weissmam]

6. I would also be amazed if can claim standing for this

[Happy Hoosier]

7. That petition is utter junk.

No standing, and the substance is riddled with Math errors. The statistical argument is complete nonsense.

[ewagner]

8. Flooding the zone?

In football when you catch the defense playing "zone" against the pass, you "flood the zone" with one too many receivers for the zone to cover.

On "Safe Harbor Day" they are flooding the supreme court with cases asking for TROs on states to keep them from locking in the certification.

This is a well-coordinated effort to pull off (another football term) a "hail Mary".

[SoFlaBro]

25. We're up by 3 touchdowns with :30 seconds left.

We can play prevent and run out the clock.

[Initech]

39. And they just failed a field goal kick!

[ArizonaLib]

34. Yes - flooding the end zone

Good analogy!

[hamsterjill]

9. While we all die down here!

Nothing like wasting precious taxpayer dollars during a pandemic, you asshole. People are hungry and dying in Texas and this jerk pulls this stupid shit.

This idiot should have already been put in jail and he wouldn’t have the standing to do this crap. Good grief! When is enough going to fucking be enough?

[duforsure]

10. They should reject it, and not get something like this started

Or every election could be challenged with manufactures baseless claims, and Paxton is a joke , and should have action taken against him for doing this now.

[CapnSteve]

11. On behalf of Texas, I apologize. We continue the work to turn Texas...

...from a Blue state that does not vote, to a Blue state that does vote!

[yaesu]

12. this must be the big news tRump was telling whomever that was coming. The GOP criminal organization

needs to be RICOed, now.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. What does Texas know about what's going on in other jurisdictions?

It's not Texas' business to control other states.

[KS Toronado]

14. Appears Texas republiCONs don't truly believe in a democracy form of government

Since they keep attempting to bypass our laws with their only reason being "he's our guy"

[Miigwech]

15. My sister in MA received 3 ballots in mail - maybe scetchy USPS and trump sent

This was way back in Oct. - told her to call her Town Clerk to find out which one to use and only to send in one vote.

[LiberalArkie]

41. Probably sent by the same processing company (in Texas) that Georgia uses.

Poor person send in all of them and goes to jail. Company gets paid for sending 3 and gets paid for the postage from the state also. Good racket.

[Miigwech]

42. Rat fuckers --- STOP THE SQUEAL

[Warpy]

16. Texas, go home. Ypu're drunk

He has absolutely no legal standing to sue any other state over their election results.

[Turbineguy]

17. Yes.

I guess they should only let trump supporters vote.

[UCmeNdc]

18. Trump never gives up! See that is his way. Trump never pays a price for his actions.

So Trump does the things no one else would try.

[Cha]

51. trump LOST the election.. so he

has paid one big price for the last 4 years of Terrorizing America. whether that fucker has gotten it through his orange head or not.

[dustyscamp]

72. It would be a mistake not to have the new AG go after Trump

[UCmeNdc]

19. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton should be called into court for coordinating with the Trump admin

to trying to put a fix in.

[benld74]

20. I read he is under FBI investigation

For SEC charges related to investments.
This is nothing more than a pardon request from the orange one

[onetexan]

23. Yup, damn fool needs to be disbarred and thrown in jail. He's done plenty of damage since he's

taken office.

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. Prof: 'a new leader in the "craziest lawsuit filed to purportedly challenge the election" category'

Link to tweet

It looks like we have a new leader in the “craziest lawsuit filed to purportedly challenge the election” category:

The State of Texas is suing Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin *directly* in #SCOTUS.

(Spoiler alert: The Court is *never* going to hear this one.)

Steve Vladeck, University of Texas law professor.

[Scruffy1]

22. He's trolling for a pardon.

He's been long indicted on state charges, but the feds are on him now. Poor slob, he is just likely to piss more judges off and once the Thing leaves for Florida he won't be back to help his accomplices get off because he knows he is finished anyhow. Even if Paxton slithers away without jail time, he's done in the law business and as a politician. The R's know he's hurting their brand and want him gone ASAP. I kind of hope he refuses to resign. He is a good reason to vote Democratic.

[relayerbob]

26. The new justices have their positions for life

Trump is now a liability to them, a boat anchor to their careers. Since they have shown themselves to be self-serving in the first place, their own best self-interest is to get Trump out of the way. Unless Trump has dirt on them (cough kavanaugh cough), even they have no reason to support this ridiculous lawsuit.

[yaesu]

29. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's response

Link to tweet

[DallasNE]

30. How Does He Even Have Standing To File Such A Lawsuit?

Plus, the proper time for a lawsuit of this nature is before the election takes place, not after the election has been certified. And why didn't he include Arizona and Nevada in with this farce.

[DENVERPOPS]

31. All of this stalling of the election

is being created to allow them time to do something in the shadows............

What the hell could be coming????????????

[ResistantAmerican17]

33. In a state filled with repugnant and deplorable republican assholes,

Ken Paxton is a gold medal turd. Fluffing for pardons!!!!!

[Marthe48]

35. a**hole pukes can't have it both ways

They have people believing Covid-19 is a hoax and turn around to sue because people took it seriously?

I'm on the roster for jur duty for 2021, and you can bet your socks that if I didn't vote in person because of Covid-19, I am not appearing in a courtroom in a county that voted for impeached traitor.

[mdbl]

36. Another embarrassment from Texas

the hits just keep on comin'

[dem in texas]

38. Sooner or Later Paxton will get His

He has a string of charges filed against him in Collin County for getting kickbacks for advising his clients to invest in certain stocks. These charges are about ten years old, don't know how they have kept them from going to court, but they have.

Collin county used to be the main seat of the Tea Party in Texas, but now there is some blue creeping up from Dallas County. Paxton will probably be saved from prosecution by the "Good Ole Boy" network. Hope Paxton at least loses his license to practice law.

[Initech]

40. How? They certified the results and they have no evidence.

[Grimelle]

44. This is all show for a pardon, folks

All Ken Paxton wants is a pardon from Trump.

[58Sunliner]

45. What a pos. He denigrates millions of voters because his head is shoved up the orange anus

hoping for political capital. What a guy.

[Mr.Bill]

46. You know what's funny about all of this bullshit?

If they held the election over again tomorrow, Biden would win by ten million votes.

[Bayard]

47. I don't see how he can directly file a case to the Supreme Court

Without winding through the lower courts first.

Lawyers out there?

[tiredtoo]

69. I heard suits between the states have a clear shot to the supreme court. EOM

[GeorgeGist]

48. Cruzing for a bruising.

[True Blue American]

50. Paxton stealing a pen.

I read Juanita Jean, too!

[rocktivity]

49. Trump isn't contesting Texas -- why would this guy care what happened in the other states

Last edited Tue Nov 9, 2021, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)

even if he did have any sort of jurisdiction?

Link to tweet

Ken Paxton, the TX AG that filed suit against GA, MI, PA, and WI has been indicted on felony securities fraud charges and is CURRENTLY under FBI investigation for abuse of political power.

This is not a lawsuit. This is a request for a pardon.

Mystery solved. Case closed, and cue the guy with the Dragnet hammer...

rocktivity

[cab67]

54. Why hasn't Paxton been disbarred yet?

Seriously - he's too ignorant to be a lawyer.

[Marcuse]

55. Marbury v Madison. Even Congress can't determine the SCOTUS' jurisdiction.

Let alone this Texas asshat.

[ancianita]

56. Not a lawyer, but this just seems illegal.

Federal statutes and rules of court penalizing frivolous litigation. In the United States Tax Court, frivolous arguments may result in a penalty of up to $25,000 under 26 U.S.C. § 6673(a)(1). ... Monetary civil penalties for violation of this rule may in some cases be imposed on the litigant or the attorney under Rule 11.

Beyond frivolous, it could be abuse of process, the improper use of the legal process after process has already been issued and a suit has commenced. In abuse of process, the legal process is misused for some purpose which is considered improper under the law.

[muriel_volestrangler]

63. 2nd Prof:"probably the dumbest case I've ever seen filed on an emergency basis at the Supreme Court"

Texas Asks Supreme Court for Permission to Sue Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin Over How They Conducted the Election, To Disenfranchise Voters in These States and Let State Legislators Choose Electors. It Won’t Work

I may need to take back what I said about Rep. Kelly’s PA suit being the dumbest case I’ve ever seen filed on an emergency basis at the Supreme Court.

This new one from the indicted Texas AG Ken Paxton (but missing the name of Texas’s Solicitor General, who surely would not sign this garbage) probably should win that prize.
...
My view in brief: this is a press release masquerading as a lawsuit. Texas doesn’t have standing to raise these claims as it has no say over how other states choose electors; it could raise these issues in other cases and does not need to go straight to the Supreme Court; it waited too late to sue; the remedy Texas suggests of disenfranchising tens of millions of voters after the fact is unconstitutional; there’s no reason to believe the voting conducted in any of the states was done unconstitutionally; it’t too late for the Supreme Court to grant a remedy even if the claims were meritorious (they are not).

What utter garbage. Dangerous garbage, but garbage.

https://electionlawblog.org/?p=119395

[Cha]

65. Thanks.. I've been hoping to

see more on what will happen with the Texas lawsuit @ SC.

[malthaussen]

66. What possible standing could Texas have?

These lawsuits are certainly fanciful.

-- Mal

[tiredtoo]

68. The SCOTUS will hear this case

With a stacked court, should we be concerned?

[MySideOfTown]

71. Maybe California and New York

appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn Texas and Florida elections?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

73. Can the SCOTUS fine the state of Texas?

You know, frivolous lawsuit or something?