Former Des Moines superintendent Ian Andre Roberts was detained by ICE and federally charged. (Polk County Sheriff)
The House Administration Committee oversees House operations and oversight and also is charged with considering proposals to amend federal election law.
The committee pressed for answers to questions such as: "Is Roberts still a registered voter in Maryland?;" "Has Mr. Roberts ever voted in Maryland? If yes, what election(s) did he participate in?;" "Was Mr. Roberts ever mailed an absentee ballot? If yes, for which election(s)?" and "How does the State Board of Elections fulfill their obligations under 52 U.S.C. §20507 to conduct a general program to remove ineligible voters from the rolls?"
Fox News Digital exclusively obtained DeMarinis' response letter to the House Committee on House Administration, which defended the state’s voter registration system but stopped short of confirming whether Roberts, an illegal immigrant later arrested by ICE, was ever mailed an absentee ballot or remains registered to vote.
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"While no voter should be on the Maryland voter rolls if they are not a citizen of the United States, being on the voter rolls does not equate to having voted in an election. This is an important distinction as we investigate potential illegalities and potential prosecution," DeMarinis wrote in the response letter dated Monday.
Voting booths are pictured on Election Day. (Paul Richards/AFP via Getty Images)
DeMarinis said the redactions of "the original production of the voter record was made with redactions applying to general requests for information under Maryland’s Public information Act, rather than requests specifically for a voter record."
"Once realized, a corrected record was produced. The information redacted was redacted pursuant to State and federal laws that permit withholding of certain voter information. Federal law requires the redaction of source of voter registration," he said, referring to an updated release of the documents that showed Roberts reported he was a U.S. citizen on his voter application.
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Roberts served as superintendent of the Des Moines school district, the largest school district in Iowa, at the time of his arrest in October. The state revoked Roberts' education license following his arrest and is no longer serving as the district's top leader.
Republicans say that illegal immigrant Ian Andre Roberts being registered to vote in Maryland raises serious concerns about the state's voting processes. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo and ICE)
He initially attempted to flee law enforcement officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security, and was found to be in possession of $3,000 in cash, a Glock 9 mm pistol and a hunting knife at the time of his arrest.
The charges are his latest in a lengthy rap sheet that goes back to 1996, federal officials previously said.
"In the end, it is important to remember as our guiding principle that as the Maryland Declaration of Rights states, ‘the right of the People to participate in the Legislature is the best security of liberty and the foundation of all free Government; . . . and every citizen having the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution, ought to have the right of suffrage,’" DeMarinis concluded his letter.
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Fox News Digital reached out to DeMarinis' office Wednesday regarding Steil's comment but did not immediately receive a reply.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/maryland-dodges-specifics-illegal-immigrant-voter-roll-case-congress-vows-keep-digging