Late Tuesday, a federal judge in Arizona cut through the bullshit of First and Second Amendment claims, banning the group Clean Elections USA from having armed members take photos or videos of people dropping off ballots at ballot boxes in the state, the New York Times reports.
During a lengthy hearing brought on by the League of Women Voters and other groups suing Clean Elections USA, a man from Mesa, Arizona told the court about how around ten armed box watchers intimidated them as they dropped their ballots off, saying they were “hunting mules” and photographing them and their vehicle. The man’s photo was put out online, and Melanie Jennings, the founder of the group, exhibited the photo when she appeared on Steve Bannon’s podcast claiming he was a mule. He, of course, is not.
“It is imperative we balance the defendants’ right to engage in First Amendment-protected activity with the plaintiffs’ right to act without intimidation or harassment,” said Judge Michael T. Liburdi, a Trump appointee.
Prior to the hearing, Clean Elections USA agreed to refraining from openly carrying guns or wearing visible body armor within 250 feet of ballot boxes, as well as following or interacting with voters within 75 feet of the boxes.
Liburdi also barred Jennings from making any false statements in the media or online relating to the election, voting or laws relating to casting ballots, citing Jennings’ incorrect statements that caregivers cannot legally drop off ballots for a voter in Arizona.
“This does not prohibit Miss Jennings from correctly stating what the law is,” said Liburdi. “I just have a problem with her stating it incorrectly in a way that is intimidating or coercive to voting behavior.”