FBI searches Cleveland office of voting rights group

The FBI searched the Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative on Thursday. The federal investigation reportedly centers on alleged voter fraud. The group, established in 2007, describes its mission as organizing Ohio residents around racial, social, and economic justice issues. A board member said the search appeared aimed at intimidating the organization ahead of midterm elections.

Democratic responses A Democratic representative from Cleveland said her office contacted the FBI for information and expressed concern that federal law enforcement was being used to intimidate voter registration efforts. She called the search an attack on democracy.

Cleveland's mayor said Ohio residents deserve answers and that the public has a right to question whether civic participation is being unfairly targeted if no legitimate basis exists. A Democratic candidate for Ohio governor said she was troubled by attempts by federal law enforcement to intimidate eligible voters from registering.

A former senator running for the Senate again said the government is silencing Ohioans' ability to vote in free and fair elections.

Investigation status The FBI Cleveland field office confirmed the organization was the subject of federal law enforcement activity but provided no further details. Ohio provided a complete statewide voter registration list to federal authorities, avoiding a lawsuit over access to voter rolls.