Jeb Bush calls for Brenda Snipes to be fired, she vows to make deadlines
Former Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush called for the removal of Broward County election chief Brenda Snipes on Monday, adding fuel to a Republican outrage over the handling of the 2018 election ballots.
photo Gage Skidmore
“There is no question that Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes failed to comply with Florida law on multiple counts, undermining Floridians’ confidence in our electoral process,” Bush tweeted to his 1.4 million followers. “Supervisor Snipes should be removed from her office following the recounts.”
Bush appointed Snipes in 2003, a point used by Democrats to illustrate her validity.
“Jeb Bush did put me here in this position in 2003 and that was following the removal of another black woman,” Snipes said on Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve had some issues that have gotten continuous. … If that is Jeb Bush’s opinion, then there is nothing I can do about it.”
Dozens of supporters of President Trump outside of Snipes’ office in Broward County, some holding signs labeling her the “Supervisor of Corruption” and chanted “Lock her up.”
In May, a federal judge ruled that Snipes violated state and federal laws by destroying ballots from the 2016 reelection bid of Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Snipes blamed her staff for the “mistake.”
“When I sign, I sign folders filled with information,” Snipes said in her testimony. She later said, “I trust my staff. They have the responsibility of giving me information that’s correct.”
