Even Cops Thought Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Voter Fraud Crackdown Was Ridiculous, Body-Cam Videos Show

New full-body camera footage sheds light on how ridiculous Florida Governor Ron DeSantis . is recent suppression about voter fraud is really what it is, with the “suspects” involved clearly baffled and even their arresting officers apologizing.

The crackdown, announced August 18 with much fanfare, involves the state’s newly created Security and Electoral Crime Office. 1.2 million dollars and so far catch a whopping 20 people in the state of 21 million.

“They’re going to pay the price for that,” DeSantis said at the time.

Since then, however, those arrests have turned out to be a farce, with many cases involving voters who not only did not know they were not allowed to vote but were issued a voter identification card by the state. .

Body-cam footage, published by Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday, showed that at least three of the suspects arrested in connection with the report had no clue they had committed the crime.

“What’s wrong with this state, man?” Tony Patterson spoke as police escorted him to a police cruiser. “Voter fraud? Y’all says anyone with a felony can vote, man. “

A 2018 constitutional amendment by the state restored the right to vote for most felonies. However, it excludes anyone convicted of murder or a sex crime, which could confuse those who are ineligible when the 2020 election rolls around.

Patterson, a registered sex offender, is particularly puzzled why he was arrested on a random August weekday, two years since he voted.

A Tampa officer who put Patterson in jail seemed surprised by the charges. While on the way, the officer said in a phone call recorded by a body camera that he had “never seen these charges before” in “his whole life,” according to the report. Times.

“I think offenders can vote,” Patterson said. “That’s why I signed the petition, that’s what I remember. Why would you let me vote if I can’t vote? “

“I’m not sure, man,” one of the arresting officers replied. “I do not know.”

Patterson was encouraged by his brother to vote, he told police, and did so because he thought Florida voters had restored that right to him. Instead, he was sent to prison on a third-degree charge for something Florida pollsters allowed him to do.

Video from two other arrests in Hillsborough County shows Patterson is not alone in his embarrassment.

Romona Oliver, 55, was about to go to work when she was caught by police shortly before 7 a.m. on August 18.

“Oh my God,” she said outside her car.

An officer approached her and told her she would be arrested for voting illegally in 2020.

“Voter fraud? I voted, but I am not guilty of fraud,” she said again.

Oliver said she was registered to vote at the Department of Highway and Motor Vehicle Safety on Valentine’s Day 2020, Times reported. She was given a voter card and voted with no problem. When she changed her address later that year, she received a second voter ID card—again, no problem.

It was not until March 30 of this year that she was removed from the list of voters. She was not warned of her misconduct by officials until she was arrested, and no guard stopped along the way to warn her that she was indeed ineligible to vote.

On the day of her arrest, footage shows Oliver begging officers to let her tell her husband what was going on while repeatedly saying “Oh my God.” The police put her in handcuffs, while an officer tried to understand what was going on.

“I know you were caught off guard,” said the officer, “but unfortunately that is how this tool works.”

When Oliver again insisted she wasn’t cheating, the person said, “That’s the thing. I don’t know exactly what happened to it, but you got a subpoena and that’s what happened. “

Oliver, a seamstress, was released on the day of her arrest as she recognized herself, arrest records said. Patterson, a mechanic for Lime scooters, was released five days later after posting a $1,000 bail. Both are black, as were 11 others arrested for voter fraud in August. Times reported. The Daily Beast on Tuesday could not be reached for comment, and neither could their attorney.

Recent cases suggest Oliver and Patterson may be eligible for a reduced fee.

Six felony voters were pardoned in nearby Lake County, Florida, earlier this year after it was determined they were not “Deliberately” commits fraud—A request for a person to be charged with voter fraud in Florida. These arrests are not related to the DeSantis crackdown.

Prosecutor Jonathan Olson wrote: “In all cases of sex offenders voting, each person appeared to be encouraged to vote by numerous letters and misinformation. “Every person is given a voter registration card to make a person believe they can legally vote in an election.”

Supporters have called for Floridians to be arrested in August against their accusationsargues that the state system for felonies regaining voting rights is confusing and disorganized.

Even State Senator Jeff Brandes, a Republican who sponsored legislation that would prevent some felonies from regaining the right to vote, admits these people may not know they broke the law by voting. promissory note.

“The more I go about the arrests, the more I believe that the individuals involved had no knowledge or intent to break the law,” Brandes said. tweeted in August. “Were these people ever informed that they were ineligible to vote? And can we prove that they did it voluntarily? “

Nathan Hart, 49, is the third arrest captured by camera footage released by Times on Tuesday. He also insists he didn’t intentionally break the law, saying he only registered to vote because someone at a “driver’s license” encouraged him to do so.

“I said, ‘I’m a felon, I’m pretty sure I can’t,'” Hart said. “He said, ‘Well, are you still on probation?’

After his probation was released, Hart said he answered “no.”

“He said, ‘Well, just fill out this form, and if they let you vote, you can,’” recalls Hart, a registered sex offender. “” If they don’t, then you can’t. “

Hart’s explanation seemed to fall on sympathetic ears as he was sent to prison, with the officers arresting him encouraging him to fight the charges.

“Then have your protection,” one of the officers replied. “You know what I’m saying? That sounds like a loophole to me.”

“Well, we can hope,” Hart said.