The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) responded to President Trump
Donald John TrumpHouse Democrat slams Donald Trump Jr. for ‘serious case of amnesia’ after testimony Skier Lindsey Vonn: I don’t want to represent Trump at Olympics Poll: 4 in 10 Republicans think senior Trump advisers had improper dealings with Russia MORE's decision to shutter his commission investigating election integrity in a statement Wednesday night, stating that the organization was "proud" to have battled the commission in court.
In a statement, the group's Voting Rights Project director Dale Ho said that Trump administration's voter fraud probe was a "sham" from the start.
"This commission was a sham from the start and everyone recognized it," Ho said.
"We have real problems when it comes to elections: low voter turnout, unnecessary barriers to participation, outdated and insecure machines, and possible foreign interference. But rather than address these real threats to election integrity, the commission engaged in a wild-goose chase for voter fraud, demonizing the very American voters whom we should all be helping to participate — with the not-so-secret goal of making voting harder with unnecessary barriers."
"President Trump has tried and failed to spread his own fake news about voter fraud," he added. "We are proud of the role that the ACLU’s litigation had in ending this charade.”
Trump signed an order establishing the probe last May to investigate his baseless claim that Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonGrassley blasts Democrats over unwillingness to probe Clinton GOP lawmakers cite new allegations of political bias in FBI Top intel Dem: Trump Jr. refused to answer questions about Trump Tower discussions with father MORE won the popular vote due to millions of illegal votes during the November 2016 election.
On Wednesday, the White House shuttered the panel, headed by Vice President Mike Pence
Michael (Mike) Richard PencePence allies worried he'll be called to answer questions from Mueller: report Trump thought it was ‘low class’ for Pence to bring pets to VP residence: report Pence told RNC he could replace Trump on ticket after 'Access Hollywood' tape came out: report MORE and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, citing conflicts with state and local officials over voter roll data.
“Despite substantial evidence of voter fraud, many states have refused to provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with basic information relevant to its inquiry,” Trump said in a statement released by the White House.
“Rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, today I signed an executive order to dissolve the Commission, and have asked the Department of Homeland Security to review these issues and determine next courses of action.”
The panel was heavily criticized by Democrats, who said it was a tool for Republicans to suppress minority voter turnout