Trump purges Election Assistance Commission members

President Donald Trump removes three remaining members Election Assistance CommissionThe White House confirmed this on Friday, with the midterm elections less than four months away.

Democrats have criticized Trump’s gutting of the EAC, an independent federal agency that helps manage election funds, saying it is the latest example of Trump’s efforts to subvert US elections.

Two Democratic commissioners – Thomas Hicks And Benjamin Hovland – They were fired via email on Thursday, according to VoteBeatreported the dismissals for the first time.

Christy McComickAccording to VoteBeat, whose news was confirmed by a White House official in an email to CNBC, he was allowed to resign.

A fourth commissioner, Republican Donald Palmer, He voluntarily left the commission in April for a job at the Heritage Foundation.

“The President and the head of the Executive Branch reserve the right to remove individuals who are not fully aligned with the important mission of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted,” a White House official said in an email to CNBC when asked about the terminations. he said.

“The Slaughter decision gives the President priority to do so,” the official said, referring to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in late June that said Trump had the authority to fire Federal Trade Commissioner Louise Slaughter.

The decision gave Trump and future presidents the authority to remove members of so-called independent federal agencies who serve under the executive branch of government.

“The administration has been working with all agencies and local partners throughout to protect elections from fraud and abuse and is investing in a strong infrastructure to continue this mission, especially in the midterm elections,” a White House official said. he said.

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DY X“The removal of all remaining members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission months before the midterm elections is a brazen attempt to seize control of our elections before a single vote has been cast,” he said.

“It eviscerates the independent agency that certifies voting systems and helps election officials conduct elections safely,” Schumer wrote.

Voting rights advocates and Democrats have raised the alarm that Trump, who has repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him, is trying to undermine the November election.

Trump continues to push for the Save America Act, a controversial election bill that would require positive identification of voters and require proof of citizenship to vote.

Last year, he opposed the practice of voting by mail and floated the idea that Republicans should “nationalize” elections.