COLUMBUS – Ohio’s elections chief says he has reissued subpoenas in an investigation into the ballot petitions of group supporting a marijuana legalization effort.
The move by Secretary of State Jon Husted on Wednesday follows a federal lawsuit over his review of ResponsibleOhio’s petition signatures.
“There is reason to believe elections fraud was committed by proponents of State Issue 3 in the process of qualifying their issue for the ballot. I have both a statutory duty and a responsibility to the people of Ohio to investigate these allegations in an effort to protect the integrity of Ohio elections,” Husted said in a statement released by his office.
A person identified as “John Doe” filed the suit last week. He alleges subpoenas in the probe seek documents from ResponsibleOhio with residents’ personal information, creating a “chilling effect” and violating the First Amendment and privacy rights of those who support the legalization proposal.
Husted’s special investigator withdrew the subpoenas Tuesday. Husted says new ones were issued Wednesday to ResponsibleOhio’s leaders.
“If Husted the Bully is going to run a campaign against the Yes on Issue 3 initiative, instead of doing the job he was elected to do as an impartial elections referee, then he should have his political campaign pick up the tab for the legal fees and spare taxpayers the time and expense,” ResponsibleOhio executive director Ian James said in a release from the organization.
A court hearing scheduled for Thursday was canceled after Doe withdrew a temporary restraining order request, citing the withdrawal of the earlier subpoenas.