© 2024 WLRN
MIAMI | SOUTH FLORIDA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

DeSantis’ election crimes arrests confuse some suspects

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' flight that took 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Mass., is being investigated by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas. The migrants were flown from Texas to Florida and then on to Martha's Vineyard. Here, DeSantis speaks at a rally on Aug. 19 in Pittsburgh.
Jeff Swensen
/
Getty Images
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' flight that took 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Mass., is being investigated by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas. The migrants were flown from Texas to Florida and then on to Martha's Vineyard. Here, DeSantis speaks at a rally on Aug. 19 in Pittsburgh.

Newly released police bodycam footage shows that three of the 20 people who were arrested in Florida for allegedly voting illegally in the 2020 election appeared to be surprised that they had done anything wrong.

The recordings, made by local police and obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, were published after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in August announced charges against the suspects as the first major public move of his controversial election police unit.

DeSantis said the people targeted had been convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense and therefore were not eligible to vote under a 2018 constitutional amendment that restores voting rights to some felons. The 20 people were among more than 11 million Florida voters who cast ballots in the 2020 election, leading critics of DeSantis to renew accusations that the election police force would serve as a political tool for the governor.

The 20 people who were arrested — despite their prior convictions — were able to register to vote, leading them to apparently believe they could legally cast ballots, according to court records. At least part of the confusion stems from language in the voter registration forms that requires applicants to swear that they are not a felon, or if they are, that they have had their rights restored. The forms do not inquire specifically about past convictions for murder and felony sexual assault.

In one of the bodycam videos, 55-year-old Romona Oliver exclaimed “Oh my God” when officers explained she was being arrested for voter fraud

“Voter fraud?” she said. “I voted, but I ain’t commit no fraud.”

Oliver was convicted of second-degree murder in December 2000, but eventually registered to vote, was given a voter registration card and cast a ballot in the 2020 Election, court records show.

In another video, Nathan Hart, convicted of a felony molestation charge in 2006, told officers that someone at the “driver’s license place” encouraged him to register to vote.

“He said, ‘Well, just fill out this form, and if they let you vote, then you can,’” Hart, 49, told officers. “‘If they don’t, then you can’t.’”

An officer arresting Hart replied, “Then there’s your defense,” adding “that sounds like a loophole to me.”

In one of the bodycam videos, 55-year-old Romona Oliver exclaimed “Oh my God” when officers explained she was being arrested for voter fraud

“Voter fraud?” she said. “I voted, but I ain’t commit no fraud.”

Oliver was convicted of second-degree murder in December 2000, but eventually registered to vote, was given a voter registration card and cast a ballot in the 2020 Election, court records show.

In another video, Nathan Hart, convicted of a felony molestation charge in 2006, told officers that someone at the “driver’s license place” encouraged him to register to vote.

“He said, ‘Well, just fill out this form, and if they let you vote, then you can,’” Hart, 49, told officers. “‘If they don’t, then you can’t.’”

An officer arresting Hart replied, “Then there’s your defense,” adding “that sounds like a loophole to me.”

“If we had a voter verification system on the front end, we wouldn’t see anybody being arrested,” Volz said. “If we can have assurances on the front end, then we don’t see arrests on the back end.”

Volz said his group had been in touch with many of the 20 to offer help in paying bail and finding legal counsel.

Volz said the arrests could have a chilling effect on other felons who are eligible to vote but are unsure if they’re allowed, saying their default decision would be to sit out the voting.

More On This Topic