Eliza Collins

USA TODAY

The Republican National Committee must explain by Wednesday any agreements it has made with Donald Trump’s campaign in an attempt to ensure “ballot security,” a federal judge has ruled.

The order issued by U.S. District Court Judge John Vazquez is in response to a motion filed by the Democratic National Committee to hold the RNC in contempt for alleged violation of a 1982 consent decree. The RNC had agreed as part of the decree to stop vote-watching after Democrats alleged the RNC was intimidating minority voters.

Last week, Democrats accused Republicans of violating the decree “by supporting and enabling the efforts of the Republican candidate for President, Donald J. Trump, as well as his campaign and advisors, to intimidate and discourage minority voters from voting in the 2016 Presidential Election,” Politico reports.

Vazquez ordered that Republicans provide details about any efforts to stop voter fraud and referenced specific statements from Gov. Mike Pence, Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and members of the RNC that seem to suggest there are vote-watching plans.

On Wednesday the deadline was extended to 5 p.m. Thursday.

"The filing is completely meritless. Just as in all prior elections in which the consent decree was in effect, the RNC strictly abides by the consent decree and does not take part directly or indirectly in any efforts to prevent or remedy vote fraud. Nor do we coordinate with the Trump campaign or any other campaign or party organization in any efforts they may make in this area. The RNC remains focused on getting out the vote," RNC spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement.

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