CINCINNATI (AP) - The Latest on a federal court battle over alleged voter intimidation in Ohio (all times local):
3 p.m.
A federal appeals court in Cincinnati has granted a motion by Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to block a lower court restraining order obtained by Ohio Democrats.
A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Sunday that the Ohio Democratic Party has not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of its case. It granted the emergency stay sought by Trump in a brief order.
The Ohio Democratic Party filed a lawsuit last week, saying a court order is needed to protect Ohioans’ rights to vote free from harassment, coercion and intimidation. A U.S. district court judge in Cleveland ruled Friday that anyone who engages in intimidation or harassment inside or near polling places would face contempt of court charges.
A state party spokeswoman says it’s exploring options.
___
10 a.m.
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has asked the federal appeals court in Cincinnati to throw out a Cleveland federal judge’s restraining order aimed at preventing voter intimidation in the swing state of Ohio.
The Republican campaign wants the full 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear its request. Its filing Saturday stated that the order “tramples” First Amendment freedoms and was issued without evidence of voter intimidation even though Ohio has had early voting going on for weeks.
The Ohio Democratic Party urges that the order be left in place, saying it’s needed to protect Ohioans’ rights to vote free from harassment, coercion and intimidation. The Democratic Party filed the suit last week, saying Trump supporters at polling places could intimidate minority and other voters after he and his surrogates urged them to stop Democrats from stealing the election for Hillary Clinton.
U.S. District Judge James Gwin ruled Friday that anyone who engages in intimidation or harassment inside or near polling places would face contempt of court charges.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.