The back of an FBI agent. File photo from Getty Images.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Two Ohio congresswomen criticize the FBI for reporting on these agents on Thursday, the Cleveland offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, an organization that advocates for voting and workers’ rights and against excessive corporate power, were searched.
Agents also reportedly fanned out across the state to question collaborationists and, in some cases, confiscated their electronic devices such as phones and laptops.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This was confirmed by Prentiss Haney, a board member many news websites that the FBI’s actions took place on Thursday. He and others in the organization could not immediately be reached.
Cleveland Democratic Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown said her questions also were not answered.
“My office has contacted the FBI requesting information and I am deeply concerned that this is an attempt to use federal law enforcement to intimidate and suppress voter registration and organizing efforts,” she said in a written statement. “This is an unprecedented attack on democracy: these raids must end immediately.”
The cooperative was established in 2007.
“The Ohio Organizing Collaborative is a grassroots organization that focuses power on the people,” he says website says. “We connect base-building community organizing groups, student associations and faith-based organizations with labor unions and policy institutes across Ohio. Our mission is to organize everyday Ohioans, building organizations with transformative power for racial, social and economic justice. Our vision is to build a democratic, multiracial, populist governing coalition in Ohio.”
Brown said the searches, seizures and interrogations appeared to be aimed at harassing voting rights groups ahead of the November midterm elections.
“Unfortunately, this appears to be part of a systematic effort by (President Donald) Trump and FBI (Director) Kash Patel to attack our elections and perpetuate further voter fraud myths – all in an effort to undermine and challenge any election result that Trump disagrees with. This is an attack on the nation.”
In a written statement, Ohio Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes said the FBI action was “an apparent attempt to use federal law enforcement to intimidate community organizers and suppress voter registration. Voter registration and the lawful voting of American citizens is not fraud.”
Sykes added: “This egregious diversion of federal resources is yet another example of a coordinated effort to restrict voting rights and voter registration and constitutes an unprecedented attack on our democracy.”
Former Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is running against incumbent Ohio GOP Sen. Jon Husted in November, also said the FBI’s actions were highly concerning – especially since the agency did not explain what organizers said it did wrong.
“Reports of the FBI raiding an Ohio voting rights organization are deeply disturbing and a transparent attempt to silence Ohioans and their ability to vote in free and fair elections,” Sherrod Brown said in a written statement. “Federal law enforcement should never attempt to intimidate eligible voters from exercising their right to participate in democracy.
He said the FBI should immediately make public any activities related to these raids in Ohio.
“For years, Ohio’s elections have been secure and conducted on a bipartisan basis. Any attempt to intimidate Ohio voters is wrong and will not work. Millions of Ohioans are ready to hold Washington politicians accountable for repeatedly voting to raise the cost of gas, groceries and utility bills,” he said.
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