Florida Attorney General wants the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into why Michael Bloomberg is helping pay off felons’ legal fees so that they can have their right to vote reinstated.
Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody sent a letter requesting the agencies to launch an investigation into “potential violations of election laws.” Her move comes after the former New York mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate raised more than $16 million from supporters and foundations last week to pay the fines and fees of more than 30,000 Black and Latinx voters in Florida with felonies, CNN’s Dan Merica and Devon M. Seyers report. Bloomberg’s goal is to have those with felonies be given back their rights to vote so that they can exercise their right in the upcoming election, the outlet reports.
The money Bloomberg raised went toward the Florida Restoration Coalition, an organization that caters to helping formerly incarcerated people restore their right to vote and works to make the voting process easier for felons. Bloomberg’s spokesperson said Moody’s call for an investigation is just Republicans’ way of trying to keep Florida citizens “disenfranchised.” “This transparent political ploy is just the latest example of Republicans attempting to keep Floridians disenfranchised,” said Jason Schechter.
The letter was sent out on Wednesday and stated that “After preliminarily reviewing this limited public information and law, it appears further investigation is warranted.” In 2018, during midterm elections, Florida signed off on a constitutional amendment that would give previously convicted felons their right to vote back, except for those imprisoned for murder or sex offenses, CNN reports.
The catch with the new amendment is that felons will have to pay off all their debts, court fees, and fines before they are given back their right to vote, which is where Bloomberg is coming in to help. The FBI Field Office in Tampa said it has “not officially received the letter,” however, “standard policy is not to confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation,” said an FBI spokesperson. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said it received the letter and will review the information.
