FBI Searches Cleveland Office Of Ohio Organizing Collaborative, Seizing Computers In Fraud Probe

The FBI searched the Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative on Thursday, seizing computers and other materials as part of an ongoing fraud-related investigation, according to people familiar with the law enforcement action.

“Washington — The FBI executed a search warrant at the office of an Ohio-based community grassroots group known for its voter registration work as part of an ongoing fraud-related investigation, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News”

CBS News

Prentiss Haney, a former executive director of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative who sits on the group’s board, said that around 25 FBI agents arrived at the office to seize the devices.

CBS News

CBS News reported that federal agents also started showing up at the homes of employees and volunteers around the same time to interview them as part of the probe, with Haney saying the questions appeared focused on voter fraud.

A Justice Department official declined to discuss details, saying search warrants are authorized by a judge and that anything said in media is unfounded speculation until after indictment.

Haney accused the operation of being an “assault” against civil rights groups, saying there were “over 125 agents” who went to the homes of volunteers and community leaders and demanded to talk without subpoenas or warrants.

NBC News quoted Haney saying, “It’s clear that this administration is fishing to try to drum up stories around fraud,” and he added that agents were trying to target civil rights leaders and community leaders.

Democracy Docket

In a statement carried by the Ohio Capital Journal, Rep. Shontel Brown said, “My office has contacted the FBI demanding information, and I am deeply concerned that this is an effort to use federal law enforcement to intimidate and halt voter registration and organizing efforts.”

The Guardian reported that Haney described the raid as “a full-on coordinated assault weaponizing the justice department and DHS,” while the FBI’s Cleveland office did not return a request for comment.

The Washington Post said the focus on the Ohio Organizing Collaborative marks a latest front in the Trump administration’s efforts to investigate and prosecute what it depicts as voter fraud around the country, including whether noncitizens are voting and whether votes are cast on behalf of deceased people.

“FBI agents on Thursday raided the Cleveland offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a pro-democracy organization that helps register voters in that state, three people briefed on the search told MS NOW”

MS NOW

Democracy Docket described the raids as a major escalation ahead of the midterm elections and said the FBI did not immediately respond to its request for comment, while Rep. Shontel Brown said the raids appear “to be part of a systematic effort by Trump and Kash Patel’s FBI to attack our elections.”

The Guardian reported that the activity came about a month after Todd Blanche instructed prosecutors to prioritize voter fraud cases, and it noted that Frank LaRose referred 1,084 non-citizens who appeared to have registered to the justice department.

In the same Guardian account, Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb said, “If there is a legitimate basis for these actions, it should be disclosed,” framing the next step as disclosure of the basis for the raid.