Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has opened an investigation into whether Mayor Mike Bloomberg is breaking election laws by paying off fines and fees for 31,000 felons, which would allow them to vote.
The investigation comes on the heels of the publication of a memo appearing to show the true intent of the fundraising effort.
“We have identified a significant vote share that requires a nominal investment. The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%,” the Bloomberg memo reads.
The memo seems to show Bloomberg sees the effort as “a more cost-effective way of adding votes to the Democratic column than investing money to persuade voters who already have the right to vote.”
“When you look at the memo and what was alleged, when you hear words like ‘we need to get this done,’ investing money to targeted particular group of voters that may be predisposed to vote a certain way, that raises concerns that you are directly influencing or even indirectly giving money to persuade votes to go a certain way,” Moody said.
“That doesn’t matter what party it is that triggers Florida law. Under Florida law, you cannot directly or indirectly give anything of value to persuade or entice a vote.”
Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg has helped raise more than $16 million so convicted felons, who have completed their prison sentences, can vote. In Florida, felons cannot vote until they have paid off fines, restitution and court fees related to their cases.
Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr