This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
One abortion promoter has been arrested and a second is being hunted by authorities in Florida who are accusing them of fraudulently submitting "signatures" in support of a ballot initiative that would enshrine late-term abortion in the state.
The case is being brought against the suspects by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
"Pro-abortion interest groups are attempting to lie and cheat their way to the ballot. With more than 60% of voters supporting Florida’s law protecting babies with a heartbeat, it's not surprising abortion advocates used deceptive language in the amendment and engaged in illegal activity. The abortion industry will not succeed in disregarding the laws and deceiving Floridians into supporting an amendment to enshrine second- and third-trimester abortions when babies can feel pain," explained Caitlin Connors, a southern regional director for SBA Pro-Life America.
"The ACLU is leading a national effort to erase protections for babies and moms using the same playbook of deceit and dark money to hide their extreme policy of legalizing painful late-term abortions and attacking the rights of parents. They were caught violating the law in Florida, but in every state, the ACLU is running campaigns, they are misleading voters."
Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced, "Florida’s Constitution is a sacred document and there is a lawful method by which voters can make amendments. However, when criminals seek to circumvent that process fraudulently, this is an affront to Floridians and the sanctity of our laws, and we will do everything within our power to ensure that Floridians and our Constitution are protected."
The initiative already was under fire, as the state Supreme Court is reviewing, charges it violates the state's single-subject rule for initiatives.
Reports confirm abortion extremists in Montana and Arkansas have also been reprimanded by attorneys general Austin Knudsen and Tim Griffin over "deceptive language" that they used in their proposals.
Further, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has issued a warning for unlawful misconduct in deceiving voters to sign petitions on the same issue in that state.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last year signed the Heartbeat Protection Act to save tens of thousands of lives of babies with beating hearts and provide $25 million to support moms during pregnancy and beyond.
Polling shows nearly two-thirds of Florida's people support that.
A report from the Daily Signal explained inspectors arrested a "paid petition circulator" and issued an arrest warrant for another after they submitted 133 invalid petitions in multiple counties.
The report noted, "Those petitions are related to an amendment that would state: 'No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.'"
The report said authorities had arrested George Edward Andrews III, 30, and booked him on 10 felonies – criminal use of personal identification.
Named in the arrest warrant was 47-year-old Jamie L. Johnson.
