On Tuesday, a segment of CBS Evening News showed that left-wing newscasts were shocked and appalled to see that Florida’s violent felons were being arrested for illegally voting. They had lost their right of casting their ballots after being convicted.
“In footage obtained from CBS News on August 18, officers showed up at the Tampa residence of Tony Patterson, a registered sex offender, and were told that he was being held for voter fraud,” Ed O’Keefe reported.
Romona Oliver was also arrested that day for illegally voting in 2020. She had received a voter ID. O’Keefe said that the state issued Oliver a card.
He reported that Patterson and 18 others were accused violating a 2018 state statute that allows most ex-felons to vote once they have completed their sentences. Not those convicted for murder or felony sexual offenses. Like Patterson and Oliver.
What’s the problem? O’Keefe acknowledged that they were prohibited from voting due to the convictions they received. This story is clearly an attempt to discredit Ron DeSantis, Florida Republican Governor.
O’Keefe tried to make the story appear suspicious and that these criminals had been set up, but he claimed that the arrests were made after investigations by a controversial state force that was established by the governor to investigate voter corruption. Patterson tells a Tampa Bay Times officer that he was misled in the videos.
O’Keefe then met Cecile Scoon of League of Women Voters, leftist organization, to complain about the arrests. She cried, adding, “Don’t let them go through the system and then after the fact, go, gotcha!”
“Critics believe that part of the problem is that Florida’s voter registration form doesn’t specify which ex-felons can have their rights restored or who aren’t eligible,” O’Keefe concluded his report.
Red Lobster made it possible for CBS to air a sympathetic segment about violent felons who commit voter fraud. They are linked.
Click “expand” to view the transcript.
CBS Evening News
10/18/2022
6:37:33 Eastern
NORAH O’DONNELL: From Ohio to Florida, there is outrage tonight at newly released bodycam footage showing the arrests and convictions of several people suspected of voter fraud. Four years after the 2018 state constitutional amendment, confusion still remains about the law. Here’s CBS Ed O’Keefe.
ED O’KEEFE – In video obtained by CBS News on Aug 18, police arrived at the Tampa home Tony Patterson, a registered sex offender. He was told he was being held for voter fraud.
TONY PATTERSON: Voter fraud? What is voter fraud?
POLICE OFFICER – Voting when you are not supposed to sir.
O’KEEFE – Romona Oliver was arrested that day for illegally voting in 2020 despite having a voter ID. The state issued a card.
ROMONA OLIVER: Voter fraud? I voted, but I didn’t commit any fraud. I was heading to work when you stopped my progress.
O’KEEFE – Patterson and 18 other were accused of violating a 2018 state statute that allows most ex-felons to vote once they have completed their sentences. However, not for those convicted of murder and felony sex offences. Like Patterson and Oliver. They now face five year imprisonment. The arrests were announced by Ron DeSantis, Florida Republican Governor.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS – They didn’t get their rights restored, but they voted anyways. They are now going to pay the price for breaking the law.
O’KEEFE – The arrests were made after investigations by a controversial state force created by the governor to investigate voter corruption. Patterson tells a Tampa Bay Times officer that he was misled in the videos.
PATTERSON – Why would you allow me to vote if I was not able?
POLICE OFFICER : I’m not sure buddy, I don’t know.
O’KEEFE : This confusion is exactly what voting experts believe shouldn’t be allowed.
CECILE Scoon (PRESIDENT, LEAGUE WOMEN VOTERS IN FLORIDA): If your intention is to set a high bar and declare it against the law, ensure that the person is notified right away. Do not allow them to go through it and then after the fact, say, “Gotcha!”
O’KEEFE – Critics claim that part of the problem is the fact that the Florida voter registration forms don’t specify whether ex-felons are eligible to vote or not. One of the August arrestees said that a DMV official had told him he could register. Norah was not able to get a response from Governor DeSantis’s office.
