Virginia House and Senate Republicans announced Monday that they have retained the services of an attorney and plan to sue Gov. Terry McAuliffe over his executive order granting voting rights to over 200,000 felons.
“Governor McAuliffe’s flagrant disregard for the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of must not go unchecked,” said Majority Leader Thomas Norment in a statement. McAuliffe signed an executive order ten days ago granting voting rights to over 200,000 felons no longer in prison, on probation or parole.
“VA cannot achieve its full potential until all men and women are eligible for this fundamental right,” McAuliffe said. His executive order drew sharp criticism from Republicans as they believe the felons will overwhelmingly vote Democrat in the battleground state’s general election.
Virginia House Speaker William Howell said, “It is the obligation of the legislative and judicial branches to serve as a check on overreaches of executive power. To that end, we are prepared to uphold the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law by challenging Governor McAuliffe’s order in court.”
Charles Cooper, a former assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, is the attorney the state party hired. The lawmakers did not say when the lawsuit will be filed.