Justice Department Involvement
In December 2005, the Washington Post reported, "Justice Department lawyers concluded that the landmark Texas congressional redistricting plan spearheaded by Rep. Tom DeLay violated the Voting Rights Act, according to a previously undisclosed memo," uncovered by the newspaper. The document, endorsed by six Justice Department attorneys, said
"the redistricting plan illegally diluted black and Hispanic voting power in two congressional districts." It also said, "The State of Texas has not met its burden in showing that the proposed congressional redistricting plan does not have a discriminatory effect."
In addition, according to the Post, Justice Department lawyers "found that Republican lawmakers and state officials who helped craft the proposal were aware it posed a high risk of being ruled discriminatory compared with other options." Further, Texas legislators proceeded with the new plan "because it would maximize the number of Republican federal lawmakers in the state." The article notes that the lawyers' position was overruled by senior political appointees in the Justice Department.
Read more about this topic: 2003 Texas Redistricting
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