Daschle files suit against GOP

Carson Walker - November 1, 2004

SIOUX FALLS — Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle took his Republican opponent, John Thune, the South Dakota Republican Party and 200 GOP poll watchers to court Monday over allegations of intimidation of American Indian voters.

According to the complaint, Daschle asked U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol for a temporary restraining order to prevent Republicans from doing anything that would "harass, intimidate or discourage voters or having that effect."

Daschle, who is seeking his fourth term, and Thune, a former member of the U.S. House who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Tim Johnson in 2002, are locked in a close race.

During a hearing Monday night, David Jordan of Charlottesville, Va., a volunteer Daschle poll watcher, testified about activity that he considered to be intimidating to people who had not yet voted early.

"On an Indian reservation, word travels fast," he said.

Jordan said he spent Monday at Lake Andes and saw GOP lawyers follow Indian voters out of the polls and write down their license plate numbers.

"They did it pretty much every time" an Indian voted, Jordan said.

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