Ohio voting rights group says it was raided by the FBI

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC), a nonprofit focused on political and voter engagement, was raided by the FBI on May 16, with over 100 agents searching its Northeast Ohio offices and seizing electronic devices. Board member Prentiss Haney stated agents questioned staff and volunteers, accusing them of voter fraud and intimidating individuals, including following them to work and school. OOC organizes voter registration and engagement activities, and Haney dismissed the raid as politically motivated, comparing it to historical civil rights intimidation tactics. He said the FBI’s actions lacked justification and were disproportionate to any alleged wrongdoing. Democratic leaders, including former Senator Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, condemned the raid as an attempt to silence voters ahead of the November midterms. Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde emphasized the importance of protecting voter participation without fear. Congressional Democrats Rep. Emilia Sykes and Rep. Joyce Beatty also expressed support for OOC. The Brennan Center for Justice called the raid an ‘outrageous fishing expedition,’ accusing federal authorities of using law enforcement for political intimidation. Meanwhile, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office stated it was cooperating with the FBI but declined to provide further details. The FBI has not issued a public statement on the raid, leaving questions about its scope and justification unanswered.