Trump Supporters Sue Virginia Over Loyalty Pledge: Report

PHOTO: Donald Trump, official candidate photo

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ARLINGTON, VA -- A group of African American pastors, supporters of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump, is suing the Commonwealth over a requirement to sign a loyalty pledge in Virginia’s presidential Republican primary, the Washington Post reports Thursday.

Virginia Beach attorney Chester Smith filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of his clients — Stephen A. Parson Sr., Bruce L. Waller Sr. and Leon Benjamin, who are from Richmond, the Post reported.

Smith told Patch that he is a Republican and that “no one should have to declare their political party. No one should have the power to exclude people. This is not a good thing,” he said Thursday afternoon.

The group says the Virginia Republican Party’s requirement, affirmed by the State Board of Elections, will discourage minorities from voting, according to the report. The lawsuit takes aim at the board.

“If they don’t stop excluding people, the party is doomed,” Trump said in a statement. Democratic presidential candidate “Hillary [Clinton] and the Democrats love this. The Republican Party in Virginia keeps losing. They really need to be smart and win for a change.”

Trump took aim at the Virginia Republican Party last week in a series of tweets, complaining about the party’s announcement that it is asking voters to sign a statement of party affiliation before voting in the Commonwealth’s March 1 presidential primary.

Billionaire businessman Trump, who has said he is hoping to nab new voters and independents, called it a “suicidal mistake” by Virginia Republicans in one of a series of tweets complaining about the mandate. Trump visited Virginia in early December, speaking to supporters at a rally in Manassas at the Prince William County fairgrounds.

The executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, John Findlay, issued the following statement in regard to the State Board of Elections approval of the GOP Statement of Affiliation:

“The Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee (SCC) has set a reasonable threshold to participate in the 2016 Republican Presidential Primary, signing your name to a very simple nine word statement that reads: ‘My signature below indicates that I am a Republican.’

“The statement was primarily passed by the SCC with a simple goal: to ensure Republican voters select our Republican nominee in 2016. As this Statement of Affiliation gets discussed, many in the media are misconstruing its intent and terminology. It is not an “oath” or “pledge” in any way. It is not targeting any candidate, group of voters or an unreasonable barrier to voting. These nine words were used specifically to avoid any confusion or reference to past attempts.

“Requiring the signing of a Statement is a far lower barrier to participation than in States that require Party registration for voters participation in primaries.”

Trump fired back in a series of tweets:

• “It begins, Republican Party of Virginia, controlled by the RNC, is working hard to disallow independent, unaffiliated and new voters. BAD!”
• “R.P.Virginia has lost statewide 7 times in a row. Will now not allow desperately needed new voters. Suicidal mistake. RNC MUST ACT NOW!”
• “The voters the Republican Party of Virginia are excluding will doom any chance of victory. The Dems LOVE IT! Be smart and win for a change!”
• “Straighten out The Republican Party of Virginia before it is too late. Stupid! RNC”
• “Hopefully the Republican National Committee can straighten out the total mess that is taking place in Virginia’s Republican Party. FAST!”

The Virginia Republican party points out that:

• In the 2000 Republican Primary, a pledge was required that said Republicans voters would not vote in another Party’s primary, significantly more detailed than the 2016 language. That Republican primary still holds the record for highest participation in a Republican process at over 660,000 voters, with a turnout of over 17 percent.
• Both parties have used statements or pledges. As an example, in May 2003 Democrats in Fairfax County issued the following requirement: “”I hereby state that I am a Democrat, that I am a registered voter within the jurisdiction for which this caucus is held, that I believe in the principles of the Democratic Party, and that I do not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee in the next ensuing election.”