The Virginia delegate to the Republican National Convention who said he would rather face a criminal charge than betray his conscience and vote for Donald Trump made his case Thursday before a federal judge.
Carroll Beau Correll Jr., of Winchester, is hopeful an upcoming federal ruling on state election law will serve as a spark for the GOP to pick a different candidate.
Correll filed a federal lawsuit last month against Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and other state officials. Correll argues the state's delegates should not be bound to a law that requires them to vote according to the results of the March 1 primary, which Trump won.
"If you don't vote for Trump, you're committing a misdemeanor. It's so absurd that the state government compels members of a private organization how to vote in that organization," Correll said.
Correll said outside a federal courthouse in Richmond on Thursday that Republicans can do better than Trump.
Judge Robert E. Payne heard testimony during a day-long hearing on Correll's legal challenge to state election law.
According to Correll, he could face some jail time if he does not vote for Trump.
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Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is fighting Correll's lawsuit and said Correll knew what the rules were for delegates when he applied to be one and shouldn’t be allowed to invalidate the results of the primary.
Payne's decision is expected next week.
