WH: Biden expected to comment on Ga.'s restrictive voter law

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden plans to issue a statement on Georgia’s new, stringent voter law.

Video Transcript

- Georgia signed into law new restrictions on voting. President Biden has expressed his moral outrage over that. There's legislation in Congress, but does the administration plan to take any executive actions or file any lawsuits opposing these new laws?

JEN PSAKI: Well, the administration has taken executive actions on voting rights, and, of course, we will continue to review options in that regard. I will say we expect to have a statement from the president on these voting laws-- this voting law, I should say-- that passed in Georgia. He's worried about how this initiative-- how this initiative sets in place allowing states-- to preventing states, I should say-- to bring water to people standing in line waiting to vote, deciding what you're going to end-- deciding to end voting at 5 o'clock when working people are just getting off of work, making it more challenging, not easier, to vote, deciding that there will be no absentee ballots under the most rigid circumstances. Like the late Congressman John Lewis said, there's nothing more precious than the right to vote and speak up. The president certainly believes that.

There are pieces of legislation, as you noted, but that he is watching closely that he will be engaging with members of Congress on including For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to make it easier for all eligible Americans to vote, to have access to the ballot box, and to prevent attacks on the sacred right to vote. I'll also note that when he was in Georgia just two weeks ago, he met with Stacey Abrams while he was there, and he will also continue to encourage and engage with outside leaders and activists on steps they can take. Obviously, there's a range of groups and organizations that may take legal action that will be leading in activism. Some of that is going to be more appropriate from outside of the White House.

- Does he have a reaction to the Georgia State representative who was arrested overnight when knocking on the Georgia governor's door as he was signing that election law?

JEN PSAKI: I think anyone who saw that video would have been deeply concerned by the actions that were taken by law enforcement to arrest her when she simply-- by the video, that was provided-- seem to be knocking on the door to see if she could watch a bill being signed into law. The larger-- the largest concern here, obviously, beyond her being treated in the manner she was-- which is, of course, of great concern-- is the law that was put into place. Which, again, the president will-- we'll have a statement from the president, I expect, later this afternoon on.

It should not be harder. It should be easier to vote. We should not put limitations in place people should be able to vote from home, they should be able to use absentee ballots, there should be a range of restrictions that are undone, not put back in place. And so, that's a great concern, one he certainly shares with the elected official who was arrested.

- Does he plan to reach out to her?

JEN PSAKI: I don't have any calls to preview for you. If he does, I will certainly provide an update to all of you.