Latino Leaders Demand Halt to Sanchez Election Probe

In the latest of a series of attacks by House Democrats on the congressional investigation into the contested race between Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and former Republican Rep. Robert K. Dornan, a contingent of Latino congressmen and advocacy groups Wednesday demanded an immediate stop to the inquiry.

The investigation--sanctioned by the House GOP leadership--was blasted as a “biased, political witch hunt” intended to scare the growing number of Latino voters. And the Latino lawmakers who spoke threatened to attempt to stop House legislative action if the inquiry proceeds.

“The Republican plan has become crystal clear,” said Rep. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). “Attack the underpinnings of Hispanic empowerment by attacking a Hispanic woman elected to Congress . . . create fear in the community, and by doing so, create a chilling effect on Latino voters.”

The concerted Democratic effort began late last week, when House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) denounced the Dornan-Sanchez inquiry and Democrats on the House Rules Committee unsuccessfully sought to cap the time and spending allotted for it.

In a symbolic gesture Monday, House Democrats voted against a bill that funds the legislative branch because the measure includes money for the committee conducting the investigation.

The assault is expected to continue today when Democratic members of the Women’s Congressional Caucus hold a news conference to join the call for an end to the investigation.

Dornan’s attorney, Mike Schroeder, who also is chairman of the California Republican Party, condemned efforts to turn the inquiry into a racial matter.

“We believe it is regrettable but not surprising that the Democratic leadership in the Congress has elected to wage an O.J. [Simpson]-style defense and play the race card,” he said.

The House Oversight Committee has been examining voter lists from Orange County’s 46th Congressional District to determine whether noncitizens voted in the election. If the committee determines voter fraud, a new election would be held as soon as possible.

Wednesday’s news conference was sponsored by the Hispanic Congressional Caucus and was attended by several congressmen and twelve leaders of national Hispanic organizations. Many denounced the investigation for arbitrarily singling out Latinos, regardless of citizenship status.

“Legally registered voters whose only crime is that they have the same surname as an immigrant are being investigated and harassed as a result of the deliberate and irresponsible actions of Congress,” said Raul Yzaguirre, president of National Council for La Raza.

The nine-month, $300,000 investigation into whether voting by noncitizens led Sanchez to her slim 984-vote margin threatens the “constitutional rights of the Latino community--the right to privacy and the right to vote,” said Georgina Verdugo, counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Speakers at the news conference warned Republicans that there will be a political price to pay for the election inquiry.

“I have news for Republicans,” said Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y). “Hispanics are here to stay. They are a growing economic force and, as the Republicans are finding out, they are a growing political force.”