Meanwhile, a former senior Justice Department official is being accused of blocking several challenges to the violation of voting rights of African Americans. In a letter to the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, seven former employees of the Voting Rights Section say the official, Hans von Spakovsky, blocked at least three lawsuits and two investigations into voting discrimination. Von Spakovsky is seeking a new six-year term on the Federal Election Commission. The former employees say his nomination should be rejected.