Judge Absolves State GOP Panel in Suit on Poll Guards
A federal judge in Santa Ana on Monday absolved the California Republican Central Committee of any liability stemming from a decision by local Republicans to station security guards at several polling places in Orange County on Election Day in November, 1988.
U.S. District Judge J. Spencer Letts said it would require “piling inference on inference” to conclude that the committee was responsible for actions it knew nothing about until afterward.
The committee was one of several defendants sued by six Latino voters who claim the guards were posted to intimidate voters--especially Latinos and others who might vote Democratic.
Prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges in connection with the posting of the guards.
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