Hundreds of ballots have been destroyed after two Oregon-area ballot drop boxes were lit on fire by incendiary devices attached to the outsides.
“You think we’re being hyperbolic when we say our democracy is under attack,” wrote Donald Trump’s lesbian niece, Mary Trump, on X, along with a video of the burning ballots. “This is what we mean.”
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Mary Trump, a psychologist, has long been sounding warning bells about her uncle, who she has repeatedly slammed as a vengeful egomaniac with “untreated psychiatric disorders.”
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While authorities have yet to identify a suspect, Mary Trump clearly believes the fire starters were inspired by Donald Trump’s all-out war on democracy.
Officials on both sides of the aisle have warned that another Trump term could be the end of democracy. U.S. Army General Mark Milley, who served under the Trump administration, recently called him “fascist to the core.”
Even four-star Marine general John Kelly, Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, recently expressed the grave dangers of a second Trump term.
Mary Trump’s post implies her belief that the ballot box fires are a direct result of Trump’s fearmongering over election processes – specifically ballot drop boxes – as well as the “permission” he implicitly gives his supporters to do whatever it takes for him to win.
The fires took place on Monday, one at a Portland, Oregon ballot box and another in nearby Vancouver, Washington, the site of a close and critical House race. Only three ballots were damaged in the Portland box thanks to a fire suppression system inside of it, but hundreds of ballots were lost in the Vancouver box after the fire suppression system failed, according to the Associated Press. Authorities believe the incident is connected to a third ballot box fire in Vancouver earlier this month in which no ballots were destroyed.
“Heartbreaking,” said Clark County, Washington auditor Greg Kimsey. “It’s a direct attack on democracy.” Kimsey said ballots will now be collected more frequently and collection times will now take place in the evenings to prevent ballots from sitting overnight.
“We don’t know the motives behind these acts, sounds like a series of three at this point, but we do know that acts like this are targeted and intentional,” Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan told reporters. “We are concerned about that intentional act trying to affect the election process. We’re dedicated to stopping that kind of behavior and we are working toward that today.” The FBI is also investigating, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) has announced “24-hour enhanced security around ballot drop-off locations.”
“This was a violent attack on democracy,” Inslee said, “and we will do everything to keep our election system strong and secure in Washington. Our state and local election teams are fully dedicated to making sure every person’s vote is counted fairly and accurately.”
Authorities are encouraging all voters in the area to track their ballots online and obtain a replacement ballot if it has not been marked as received.
Inslee urged Vancouver voters to ” check with the Clark County Auditor’s office or VoteWA.gov for accurate information about how to obtain a replacement ballot or track their ballot once it has been returned. There are multiple ways for voters to cast their ballot and make sure their voice is heard.”
“Voter intimidation or any criminal act to undermine the upcoming election is un-American and will not be tolerated,” Oregon’s out governor Tina Kotek said in a statement.
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