McAuliffe mocks GOP lawsuit over restoration of rights

(AP) – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is mocking the Republican-led lawsuits against him over his blanket restoration of rights to more than 200,000 ex-felons.

The Democratic governor said during a radio show on WTOP that if he lost the lawsuit he would then sign more than 200,000 individual rights restoration orders the following day.
 
Republicans have argued that McAuliffe should only restore civil rights – like voting, serving on juries or being able to run for office – on an individual basis. But McAuliffe has said he has the authority to issue a blanket restoration.
 
The high court is expected in July to hear arguments in the lawsuit. A conservative legal advocacy group has filed a second lawsuit challenging McAuliffe’s restoration of rights.