Shouts of "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" erupted across the Arizona State Capitol after Republican lawmakers quickly shut down discussion of repealing an 1864 abortion law.
The department said that auditors could face criminal or civil penalties if they flouted elections laws.
The Arizona audit is led by a private contractor called Cyber Ninjas, whose owner has shared conspiracy theories that the election was stolen from former President Donald J. Trump.Credit.Matt York/Associated Press
July 28, 2021, 4:02 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON The Justice Department on Wednesday sent another warning shot to Republican state legislatures that have initiated private audits of voting tabulations broadly viewed as efforts to cast doubt on the results of the presidential election.
The department warned that auditors could face criminal and civil penalties if they destroy any records related to the election or intimidate voters in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and federal laws prohibiting voter intimidation.