An election integrity group is asking the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to investigate and prosecute those involved in a violent mob attack in Chicago after Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton.
One day after the presidential election, David Wilcox was thrown to the ground and viciously attacked after he exited his vehicle to get insurance information from a driver who scraped his car. People can be heard yelling, "He voted for Trump," "It's one of them white boy Trump guys," and "Beat his ass, he voted for Trump," in a video recording of the incident that was posted online.
A second video of the incident shows that one of the attackers jumped into Wilcox's car and began to drive off. Wilcox can be seen hanging onto the back window of his car as he is dragged down the street. Wilcox says he eventually let go of the car and rolled several times into oncoming lanes of traffic.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), an Indiana-based law group that litigates to protect election integrity, sent two letters to the Department of Justice this week urging them to take action and investigate the matter.
The first letter was sent to Chris Herren, the chief of the Justice Department's voting section.
"I have not yet seen any news regarding the Voting Section's interest in the violent and vicious attack on Mr. David Wilcox," J. Christian Adams, president of PILF, wrote in the letter. "I am writing now to urge you to conduct a thorough investigation into the savage beating of David Wilcox in Chicago, Illinois. On November 9, 2016, Mr. Wilcox was captured on video being beaten and kicked by a mob of people. Wilcox told reporters that bystanders were shouting statements such as 'he voted Trump.' Wilcox did indeed vote for President-Elect Donald Trump. The statements of those encouraging the beating would support an investigation."
"Though Mr. Wilcox said the perpetrators would not necessarily know with perfect certainty for whom he voted, Wilcox noted one of the perpetrators said 'it's one of them white boy Trump guys.' The perpetrators thought, correctly, that Mr. Wilcox voted for President-Elect Donald Trump. Other voices are heard on video saying, "beat his ass, he voted for Trump." The attackers follow these racially and politically motivated suggestions."
PILF cited section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which states that "no person ... shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote."
Adams said the department has a chance to change the public perception that it only protects certain Americans.
"The Justice Department has an obligation to protect all Americans from racially motivated violence surrounding elections, not just some Americans," Adams wrote. "Your Section can help dispel the widespread perception that only some Americans are protected by the Department of Justice if you act in this case. If you don't act, those perceptions will be reinforced."
The second letter was sent to Paige Fitzgerald, the acting chief of the Criminal Section of the Criminal Rights Division, calling for prosecution under a federal law that prohibits violence against individuals for exercising their rights. The group noted that another statute prohibits intimidation or violence against individuals for voting.
"The right to participate in an election without fear of being beaten by a mob is one of the most fundamental civil rights," Adams said of the incident. "Americans should not have to fear political violence because they voted for Donald Trump, and this Justice Department needs to start enforcing the law no matter who the victim is. Elections are free only if they are free from violence."
David Jacobs, deputy press secretary at the Justice Department, told the Washington Free Beacon that the department is reviewing the letter.