The Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland launched a federal lawsuit against Fayette County, Tennessee, alleging its county redistricting plan for the Fayette County Board of Commissioners were gerrymandered to diminish the importance of black voters.
In its 17-page lawsuit, the DOJ accuses Fayette County of violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, arguing that black voters were given unequal voting opportunities as a result of the 2021 redistricting process.
According to the DOJ, without discussing them, the commissioners disregarded plans “that included multiple majority Black voting-age population districts, and instead adopted a plan,” created without the goal of creating at least one majority-black district.
The Biden DOJ notes in its lawsuit that five black commission candidates, including an incumbent, have lost elections in the years since the redistricting change, and argued that a federal court should prevent the commission from using the districts set in 2021 for future elections, judging the commission guilty “of diluting the voting strength of the County’s Black voters.”
It also asks a federal court to require Fayette County to create a new redistricting plan that would meet the DOJ’s expectations for compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
The lawsuit was filed by Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren (pictured above) in the Western District of Tennessee, alongside Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General (AUSA) for the Civil Rights Division.
President-elect Donald Trump has already named Pam Bondi to serve as his administration’s attorney general, who began her confirmation hearings this week.
In addition to Bondi, Trump named a successor for Clarke, as he nominated Harmeet Dhillon to serve as AUSA of the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ under his administration.
When announcing her nomination, Trump said Dhillon, “will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and Firmly.”
Dhillon, sharing Trump’s announcement to the social media platform X, wrote that she was “extremely honored” after being nominated “to assist with our nation’s civil rights agenda.”
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “US Atty Reagan Fondren” by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and “Fayette County Courthouse” is by Fayette County Mayor Rhea Taylor.
The West TN DEMS do not control the House; therefore, the Republicans have the authority to redraw Districts following every 10 yr Census.
Tge US Supreme Court upheld this law known as ONE MAN, ONE VOTE. This law was championed by former Mayor Ben West.
This is another frivolous waste of taxpayer dollars by the Butt Hurt Dems.
Oh, I dunno…I predict that lawsuit will be dropped by Monday.