Trump forces out Election Assistance Commission's final members ahead of the midterms

Trump forces out Election Assistance Commission's final members ahead of the midterms. The White House is defending President Donald Trump's decision to force out the three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, an independent and bipartisan commission whose mission is to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process -- contending he "reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America's elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted." It comes as Trump has sought to sow doubt in the integrity of the nation's election system ahead of the high-stakes midterm elections this fall. Despite Trump's claims, officials have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud. The White House official pointed to the Supreme Court's recent decision in Trump v. Slaughter, in which the conservative majority rolled back 90 years of legal precedent that had prevented at-will removal of independent agency officials, as giving the president the "precedence" to remove individuals not aligned with his policy aims. The White House has not responded to an inquiry seeking clarification on whether the Democrats refused to resign or were fired outright. "Firing every remaining member of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission months before the midterms is a brazen attempt to seize control of our elections before a single vote is cast. He is gutting the independent agency that certifies voting systems and helps election officials run secure elections," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.