ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe pardoned 60,000 felons – enough to swing the state’s presidential election – just in time for them to register to vote for the 2016 presidential contest.

Now, a voter fraud group is requesting information on those voters, as Mr. McAuliffe pardoned them with an auto-pen despite a state court’s requirement that an individualized determination be made for each felon.

The Public Interest Legal Foundation wants to ensure the 60,000 felons Mr. McAuliffe pardoned were personally reviewed and approved, per state law.

“Laws no longer matter to powerful people interested in keeping their power,” said J. Christian Adams, President and General Counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, which wants to inspect list maintenance records regarding the tens of thousands of individuals recently given rights by the Governor. “We have asked state election officials to inspect records demonstrating the extent of the Governor’s lawlessness.”

Virginia’s political races have historically been determined by small margins. In 2014 Senate race was won by a mere 17,000 votes, and the contest for attorney general came down to 165 votes.

The Public Interest Legal Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit against Virginia’s Chesterfield County registrar Larry Haake, and Susan Reed, the registrar in the City of Manassas, for refusing to disclose election records.

After compiling the voter records in eight other counties in Virginia, the Foundation found more than 1,000 illegal immigrants were registered to vote. Those illegals were removed from the voter rolls.

Federal elections law requires election records to be made available to the public.