Democrats on Wednesday celebrated the dissolution of a highly controversial panel set up to investigate President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s claims of voter fraud during the 2016 election.

Trump announced Wednesday he was dissolving the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which was created last May to investigate his unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud during the 2016 election.

A number of Democratic lawmakers praised the decision, deriding the commission as a violation of voters' rights.

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Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that “rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense,” Trump signed an order that abolished the panel and turned the matter over to the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump has previously said, without evidence, that millions of illegal votes cost him the popular vote against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE.

The panel met twice, but was bogged down by states’ lack of cooperation and several lawsuits alleging it violated voters' privacy.

On Wednesday, critics of the panel celebrated Trump’s announcement.

Rep. Gerry Connolly Gerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyJudge issues nationwide injunction against Postal Service changes House panel advances bill to ban Postal Service leaders from holding political positions Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' MORE (D-Va.) said the commission got “the ugly death it deserved."

Sen. Michael Bennet Michael Farrand BennetOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Next crisis, keep people working and give them raises MORE (D-Colo.) called on the Department of Homeland Security to “end this taxpayer-funded fishing expedition.”

Others railed against the panel as an attempt to "suppress" voters, with some saying the only "fraud" was the commission itself.

Read lawmaker's responses below:

Fraudulent voter fraud commission is dissolved. The ugly death it deserved. — Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) January 3, 2018

Thousands of Coloradans cancelled their registrations because they knew this voter fraud commission lacked any objectivity or credibility. @DHSgov should end this taxpayer-funded fishing expedition aimed at validating @POTUS's conspiracy theories about the 2016 election. https://t.co/PAZCkw710K — Michael F. Bennet (@SenBennetCO) January 3, 2018