5:04
In Pennsylvania, poll watchers are not allowed in satellite offices, which are locations where voters can register to vote and request and return mail in ballots, among other things, and are not considered official polling locations. The Trump campaign has sued to enable poll watchers to monitor these locations, claiming \"bad things are happening in Philadelphia,\" though a judge tossed the suit over the weekend.
\"Mr. Fitzpatrick went inside the facility, he was asked why he was there,\" said Teresa Lundy, the spokesperson for the sheriff's office. “And then he pulled out his cellphone and started doing video and taking photographs, and that's when he was approached asked to leave.\"
Fitzpatrick did not respond to email and phone messages from ABC News seeking comment. His video of the encounter was posted on Twitter by a Trump campaign staffer. A Trump campaign spokesperson told ABC News the incident was \"another instance of Philly election officials denying observers access to the voting places.\"
A few days after the incident, Fitzpatrick was back talking to Trump’s 2020 volunteers. On a video of a training session obtained by ABC News, he can be seen making clear his goal. Discussing an effort to review absentee ballot applications, he said: “We're going to need people to go through them and issue challenges.”
“We think it all comes down to Pennsylvania this year,” he told the group. “We could use the help. Let us know if you’re interested.”
This report was featured in the Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ daily news podcast.
\"Start Here\" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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