"In light of questions we have been asked regarding who will serve as election monitors, I want to inform the public that no criminal prosecutors will be utilized as election monitors on Election Day this year," acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker said in a statement.
She added: "This decision was made as a precaution and is not the result of any instance of intimidation or complaint regarding any specific incident."
Becker and Attorney General Michael Mukasey met two weeks ago with about 40 representatives from voter access watchdogs, hoping to assure them that having a smooth Nov. 4 election is a top Justice Department priority. A heavy minority turnout is expected for Obama, who is black.
Although federal prosecutors have in past elections focused on preventing voter fraud in other words, making sure voters are eligible to vote Becker pledged to ensure ballot access for as many people as possible. She said the Justice Department will station hundreds of federal monitors around the country to make sure voters aren't unfairly kept from the polls. The monitors won't include prosecutors this year.
So there you have it. The Justice Department is no longer in the election integrity business. It is now in the "ensuring ballot access" business.
Thank you, interesting times, for the rest of the story.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/29640039.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU