JOHN RAY CLEMMONS STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 55 COMMITTEES EDUCATION ~tatt nf HEALTH CORDELL HULL BUILDING IDtnntsstt NAMING, DESIGNATING & PRIVATE ACTS 425 FfFTH AVENUE NORTH. SUITE 408 NASHVILLE. TN 37243 SUBCOMMITTEES (615) 74 1-4410 :Hnust nf lttprtstntatiuts HIGHER EDUCATION rep.john .ray.clemmons@capitol .tn .gov MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE January 5, 2021
Mr_ Tre Hargett Tennessee Secretary of State State Capitol, First Floor Nashville, TN 37243-1102
Dear Secretary Hargett,
You have evidenced your intention to seek re-election to the office of Secretary of State in writing and requested the support of me and my state legislative colleagues. T he 1121h General Assembly is currently scheduled to convene for the purpose of electing constitutional o fficers on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
The Tennessee Secretary of State is statutorily charged with numerous election-related functions, including but not limited to providing administrative oversight of the state election commission and appointing the coordinator of elections. Additionally, you have routinely personally i.nvoh·ed yourself, your office and those in your charge in voting rights and election-related legislation and matters before the Tennessee House of Representatives. For these reasons, my constituents and I would sincerely appreciate receiving a response to the following questions in writing prior to noon on January 12, 2021.
1. D o you support the decision of Senator Marsha Blackbum and Senator Bill Hagerty to vote to oppose the results of the Electoral College. Yes or no? Why?
2. On December 30, 2020, 23 members of the 1121h General Assembly penned a letter alleging that presidential "election fraud is widespread" and that "the types of fraud and irregularities are numerous" in six states. These same members also called on Republican members of the Tennessee congressional delegation to object to electors from those select states and conduct an investigation into "widespread elections irregularities." Do you agree with the allegations set forth in this correspondence? Yes or No?
3. Do you have knowledge of any facts or law that would support any of the requests set forth in the 23 Assembly members' December 30'" correspondence? Yes or No?
4. On December 9, 2020, in response to the Tennessee Attorney General's announcement that he had joined an Amicus Brief supporting a Texas election lawsuit contesting 2020 election results in four states, you tweeted, "Considerable thought went into this decision to join the amicus brief, and our office supports its filing." Please explain your personal role or any communications you had with the Attorney General, Governor, or anyone
1 regarding Gen. Slatery's decision prior to the time he announced his decision to join a case that was promptly tossed by the U.S. Supreme Court two days later.
5. With regard to the above matter, please explain the reason you and the office of the Tennessee Secretary of State "support[ed] its filing," as stated in your Twitter post.
6. You are a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State. Since the presidential election, have you, in any way, publicly or privately communicated with any of the following NASS colleagues or their offices in any manner: Secretary Katie Hobbs (AZ), Secretary Brad Raffenseperger (GA), Secretary Jocelyn Benson (MI), Secretary Barbara Cegavske (NV), Secretary Kathy Boockvar (PA), or Secretary Douglas La Follette (WI)? Yes or no? If yes, with whom and for what purpose?
7. You and/or your coordinator of elections have routinely appeared in House committees to argue that "election fraud" is the reason for a number of voting and election-related laws enacted since 2010. Please provide me with the number of convictions for any type of election fraud or substantiated claims of election fraud since 2000 or whatever timeline you feel best supports your position that election fraud is an issue supporting the enactment of any relevant laws since 2010.
8. In 2019, you and your coordinator of elections strongly supported, advocated and lobbied for a law that restricted and imposed criminal and civil penalties on community voter registration efforts. In 2020, after a federal court issued an injunction temporarily preventing the law from taking effect, the General Assembly passed another law stripping out the provisions deemed unconstitutional. Do you still support the 2019 legislation, as originally enacted? Yes or no?
As you know, the general public lacks the opportunity to question you and unfortunately has no direct vote for the Secretary of State. For this reason, we are constitutionally charged with representing their will in this important regard. Because there is currently no formal opportunity for legislators to question candidates for constitutional offices in a public setting prior to the vote, we pose these questions to you in this manner with full expectation of straightforward replies. These represent but a few of the many questions our constituents have for you. Should you require clarification of any of the above, please do not hesitate to request same in writing in a timely manner.
We anticipate timely receipt of your answers to all of the above. Thanks, in advance.
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