The escalating battle over McKinney’s recall campaign has reached the federal level, with Collin County Citizens for Integrity asking the U.S. Department of Justice to review allegations that residents are being intimidated, publicly identified, or pressured to sign the recall petition.
The political action committee submitted a civil rights complaint to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon requesting an expedited federal review of conduct surrounding the signature-gathering effort.
The complaint stresses that opposition to the recall itself is lawful and constitutionally protected. The group instead alleges that some conduct has crossed into efforts designed to discourage residents from participating.
“Our concern is not simply that individuals oppose the recall,” the complaint states. “Our concern involves statements and conduct that appear directed toward identifying, singling out, harassing, intimidating, or discouraging individual citizens from participating in the petition process.”
Group Says Residents Are Afraid to Sign
According to the complaint, recall supporters have documented social media posts, recordings, videos, and other communications that they believe demonstrate attempts to interfere with petition circulation.
The organization claims some residents who signed or considered signing have been publicly identified online and says potential signers have expressed fears about retaliation, damage to their reputations, or consequences for their businesses and professional relationships.
“Most troubling, we are hearing directly from McKinney voters who tell us that they are afraid to sign the recall petition,” the complaint states.
The group is asking DOJ to determine whether any of the alleged conduct constitutes intimidation, coercion, retaliation, harassment, or unlawful interference with voters participating in the recall process. It also wants federal officials to examine whether coordinated online efforts are being used to expose or pressure petition signers and whether anyone acting under governmental authority has participated in such conduct.
The complaint represents the organization’s allegations and does not establish that any federal law has been violated.
Recall Targets Four McKinney Officials
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, five McKinney voters launched the recall effort targeting Mayor Bill Cox, At-Large 1 Council Member Ernest Lynch, District 3 Council Member Geré Feltus, and District 1 Council Member Justin Beller.
The initiating affidavit cites “a loss of public confidence” and does not specifically identify the council’s August 4 vote approving a mosque and Islamic center as the formal grounds for removal.
The mosque controversy, however, has remained a prominent issue in the broader political fight surrounding the recall.
Congressman Keith Self Backs DOJ Review
U.S. Rep. Keith Self has publicly backed the request for federal scrutiny.
“I fully support calls for the Department of Justice to investigate potential voter intimidation and interference with the recall petition process in McKinney, Texas,” Self wrote on X.
I fully support calls for the Department of Justice to investigate potential voter intimidation and interference with the recall petition process in McKinney, Texas. https://t.co/cpTEVJdTVR
— Keith Self (@SelfForCongress) August 23, 2026
Recall supporter Luis Maldonado similarly argued that residents should be free to participate without fear.
“McKinney residents have every right to organize, petition, speak out, and demand accountability without being intimidated for doing it,” Maldonado told The Dallas Express.
Maldonado also thanked Self and several activists involved in or supportive of the broader campaign, framing the recall battle in part around concerns over Islam in America.
‘Decline to Sign’ Campaign Pushes Back
Opponents of the recall have meanwhile organized their own public campaign urging residents not to sign.
Jared Tye and other volunteers associated with the “Decline to Sign” effort have set up public outreach locations supporting the targeted council members and encouraging McKinney voters to reject the petition.
McKinney resident Kelly Calkings Roberts criticized the recall and accused supporters of using opposition to the mosque project and fears surrounding Sharia law to motivate signatures.
“The good people they are attempting to recall give tirelessly of themselves and this is despicable,” Roberts wrote, adding that she believes the campaign is being driven in part by “Sharia scare tactics.”
Competing Campaigns Race Toward Deadline as PAC Seeks State Review
The dispute now leaves two competing political efforts operating simultaneously in McKinney: recall supporters racing to gather enough signatures to force an election and opponents organizing to persuade voters to decline to sign.
Collin County Citizens for Integrity argues the clock makes federal review particularly urgent, noting that any chilling effect on prospective signers could become impossible to remedy once the petition deadline passes.
Organizers must collect approximately 5,805 valid signatures from registered McKinney voters by 5 p.m. on September 26, 2026, to force a recall election, according to the city’s charter requirements and campaign filings.
Early campaign reports placed the number of signatures gathered so far at around 1,500, though that figure has not been independently verified and was later removed from the public petition website.
In addition to the federal complaint, Collin County Citizens for Integrity has also asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to examine the same allegations of intimidation, harassment, and retaliation against petition supporters.
The Dallas Express reached out to the DOJ for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Provided by Dallas Express
