Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced on Apr. 17 that Judge Mary S. McElroy has granted the State’s motion to dismiss a civil complaint brought by the Department of Justice in United States vs. Amore.
The decision marks a significant development in an ongoing dispute over access to personally identifiable voter information and the role of federal versus state authority.
Neronha released a statement following the court’s decision, saying, “Historically, the Department of Justice has sought to protect the public by upholding the rule of law; this isn’t the case anymore. More than half a century after Watergate, which established a tradition of operational independence, the Department of Justice has been compromised by the Trump Administration and is now primarily focused on doing the President’s bidding, which more often than not, is entirely baseless and often retaliatory in nature.”
He also credited his legal team for their work: “My Office is full of talented, hardworking lawyers, some of whom flawlessly argued on behalf of Secretary Amore before the Court. That said, I never thought for a second we wouldn’t win this case, because lawsuits concerning lawful conduct are largely unsuccessful. The President cannot legally access personally identifiable information within our voter rolls; their maintenance and security remain responsibilities that Congress and the Constitution entrust to the states.”
Neronha concluded his remarks by thanking Judge McElroy for her decision and Secretary Amore for his partnership: “I thank Judge McElroy for her thoughtful decision in this matter, and Secretary Amore for his partnership in this case. My Office and democratic attorneys general across the country will continue our relentless pursuit of the rule of law, and we will not hesitate to protect Americans from executive overreach.”
The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between state officials responsible for election administration and federal authorities seeking access to sensitive voter data.
