The Political Insider

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody stood by her call to open an investigation into Mike Bloomberg, who is allegedly paying the fines of black and Hispanic felons in Florida to allow them to vote.

“A More Cost-Effective Way Of Adding Votes To The Biden Column”

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the billionaire Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York and failed Democratic presidential candidate, raised $16 million for the program to pay the fines and fees.

The effort is specifically designed to raise votes for Joe Biden.

A Bloomberg memo revealed that the former New York mayor saw the donations as “a more cost-effective way of adding votes to the Democratic column than investing money to persuade voters who already have the right to vote.”

Moody: “That May Be Illegal”

Ashley Moody, Florida’s Attorney General, called for an investigation into the funds.

The move came after Representative Matt Gaetz claimed that under Florida law “it’s a third-degree felony for someone to either directly or indirectly provide something of value to impact whether or not someone votes.”

Speaking to Fox and Friends on Thursday, Florida AG Moody defended her call for an investigation into Bloomberg.

“When you look at the memo and what was alleged, when you hear words like we need to get this done, investing money to targeted particular group of voters that may be predisposed to vote a certain way, that raises concerns that you are directly influencing or even indirectly giving money to persuade votes to go a certain way,” Moody said.

“That doesn’t matter what party it is that triggers Florida law. Under Florida law, you cannot directly or indirectly give anything of value to persuade or entice a vote,” she continued.

“And so, as attorney general, and I believe any official charged with enforcing elections law, we have to be clear about what we are doing, which is why when I asked for further investigation, I attached all the relevant law, even opinions that describe if you target even particular voters that may be predisposed to vote a particular way, that may be illegal,” she added.

Moody said that the FBI should look at investigating under federal law. “Americans need to know that no stone will be left unturned and investigations will proceed so that they can trust in these elections,” she argued.

Democrats Dismiss Moody’s Call To Investigate

CNN reports that the fund is meant for a felons voting rights group, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

As could be expected, a spokesman for Bloomberg claimed that the effort was totally on the up-and-up.

Bloomberg spokesman Jordan Schechter said of the complaint, “This transparent political ploy is just the latest example of Republicans attempting to keep Floridians disenfranchised.”

Trump: Bloomberg’s Actions “Totally Illegal”