Congressman Meuser Calls on Governor Shapiro to Investigate Democrat PAC Behind Misleading Political Ad
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) wrote to Governor Josh Shapiro urging his Administration’s Election Threats Task Force to investigate the “Pennsylvania Values” PAC for a blatantly deceptive and illegal ad encouraging Pennsylvanians not to vote.
President Trump has expressed his support for early and mail-in voting through the “Bank Your Vote” and “Swamp the Vote USA” initiatives, yet the ad urges viewers to “Stand strong with President Trump against Mail-in Ballots.”
The clear and malicious intention of this ad is to dissuade Republican voters and all other voters who support Republican candidates in this November’s election from utilizing mail-in balloting by wrongly stating the presumptive Republican nominee for president does not support voting by mail.
The “Pennsylvania Values” PAC clearly does not support President Trump or Republican candidates, as the group’s previous spending has, in fact, been in opposition to GOP candidates. Most recently, the group ran a series of ads attacking Congressman Lou Barletta, the Republican nominee in Pennsylvania’s 2018 Senate race.
The ad is blatant disinformation and intentionally is intended to mislead voters, which is illegal under Pennsylvania law. Specifically, it violates Section 3527, Title 25, and Section 3547, Title 25. The statutes can be found below.
Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) said, “Of the hundreds of thousands of views, Pennsylvania Values’ ad has likely dissuaded some not to vote by mail, or worse, to not vote at all. Damage to election integrity and confidence in the election process has been done. Governor Shapiro’s office must condemn this attempt to suppress votes to help restore voter confidence that has been eroded. Election integrity is paramount, and I believe it can be achieved in Pennsylvania. We must work in a non-partisan manner to prevent the erosion of voter confidence in election outcomes. A strong response from Governor Shapiro and Secretary Schmidt will show Pennsylvania citizens that this administration is committed to combating election law violations, regardless of party.”
The letter to Governor Shapiro can be found here.
Pennsylvania Statues Section 3527, title 25, states in part:
“If any person shall prevent or attempt to…prevent [people] from voting or restrain…freedom of choice…or in any manner…prevent a free and fair primary or election, he shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars, or to undergo an imprisonment of not more than seven (7) years, or both, in the discretion of the court.”
Pennsylvania Statues Section 3547, title 25, states in part:
“Any person or corporation who, directly or indirectly…(b) by abduction, duress or coercion, or any forcible or fraudulent device or contrivance, whatever, impedes, prevents, or otherwise interferes with the free exercise of the elective franchise. . . “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree….” The sentence for a person or corporation convicted under this Section is “a fine not exceeding $5,000…” “or such a person or the officers, directors or agents of a corporation responsible for the violation of this section shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not more than two (2) or both, in the discretion of the court.”
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