California Officials Reject Trump Administration Demands Over Voter Lists
State leaders accuse the Department of Justice of weaponizing the law after federal prosecutors ordered a 48-hour review of 20,000 ballots.
At a glance
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta accused the Justice Department of weaponizing the law ahead of the midterm elections.
- The DOJ demanded local officials verify around 20,000 suspected noncitizen ballots within a 48-hour deadline.
- County officials warned that many individuals on the list are native-born U.S. citizens, sparking a legal challenge set for Tuesday.
California leaders have pushed back against the Trump administration over federal demands to investigate alleged noncitizen voting, accusing the Department of Justice of politicizing law enforcement ahead of the midterm elections. State Attorney General Rob Bonta stated on Saturday that the federal agency was acting under Donald Trump's direction to target political opponents improperly.
The dispute escalated after federal prosecutors instructed California election workers to review and verify within 48 hours a list containing approximately 20,000 ballots linked to individuals suspected of lacking citizenship. Voting by noncitizens remains extremely rare across the country, but the Justice Department has intensified enforcement efforts targeting ineligible voters leading up to the vote.
Concerns Over Disenfranchisement
California election administrators warned that rushing the verification process could disenfranchise legitimate American voters. Officials in Los Angeles reported that a substantial portion of the names appearing on the federal government's list were individuals born in the United States.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the federal effort on social media, describing it as an effort to manufacture evidence of widespread voter fraud. Newsom noted that the provided records included individuals who had never cast a ballot, as well as voters registered in completely different counties. Representative Pete Aguilar similarly denounced the demands, stating that voter intimidation has no role in democratic elections.
Attorney General Bonta noted that the Justice Department failed to provide underlying evidence justifying why the listed voters were considered ineligible, pointing out that state officials received only names without supporting documentation. In response, the Justice Department maintained that county cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security is necessary to confirm citizenship status and ensure election integrity.
Federal Charges and Court Battle
Alongside the demands, federal prosecutors announced charges against 28 lawful permanent residents for allegedly registering to vote illegally. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli argued that the indictments demonstrate noncitizens are receiving mail-in ballots contrary to federal statute, which prohibits noncitizens from participating in federal elections.
Due to the short deadline and the imminent election, several state officials declined to execute the demands outlined in the federal letters. The standoff has triggered an expedited legal challenge, with a federal appeals court scheduled to hear arguments on Tuesday.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Why are California officials disputing the DOJ demands?
- Officials say the federal government gave a 48-hour deadline without supporting evidence, while many individuals on the list were born in the U.S. and some never even voted.
- What action did the Justice Department take?
- The DOJ requested verification for about 20,000 ballots and charged 28 lawful permanent residents with fraudulently registering to vote.
- What happens next in the legal dispute?
- With several California officials refusing to act on the letters due to the approaching election, an appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday.
