DOJ subpoenas Los Angeles election workers in California voter roll dispute
Grand jury subpoenas were served on Los Angeles County election employees, the registrar's office confirmed to NPR, as a judge told the Justice Department to stop threatening officials.
At a glance
- The LA County registrar's office confirmed to NPR it received grand jury subpoenas directed at employees last week.
- A federal judge rejected the DOJ's bid to set aside ballots of 20,000 voters it called "likely" noncitizens.
- Judge David O. Carter said threats against election officials must stop; the DOJ is appealing his ruling.
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office confirmed on Thursday that it received grand jury subpoenas directed at employees last week, the latest escalation in a dispute between the Justice Department and California election officials over the Trump administration's push to identify noncitizens on the state's voter rolls.
The confirmation followed reporting that first appeared in The New York Times that at least two employees at the registrar's office were served grand jury subpoenas with instructions to appear in court on Nov. 4. It is unclear whether the staff who received the subpoenas are the targets of a criminal investigation at this point. A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment about the subpoenas.
Warning letters
In recent weeks, the DOJ sent letters to local election officials in California warning they could "risk significant federal scrutiny and legal exposure" if they refused to cooperate with DOJ demands to set aside ballots pertaining to people federal officials had flagged as "likely" noncitizens.
"If persons knowingly tabulate ballots cast by individuals identified by federal agencies as noncitizens, they risk becoming aiders and abettors to a federal crime," the letters warned.
Judge rejects ballot demand
The news of last week's subpoenas came a day after a federal judge in California rejected a Justice Department request to require state election officials to set aside and stop processing the ballots of thousands of California voters who appear on a list of 20,000 names federal officials say are "likely" noncitizens.
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter found there was no legal basis for the demand and said the court was not convinced the list was reliable. He also raised concerns the effort would disenfranchise eligible voters and create election chaos. The DOJ is appealing his ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
At a hearing in Carter's courtroom on Tuesday, the judge warned Justice Department officials: "This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state and county elected employees cease immediately." He repeated that message in an order issued Wednesday evening, writing: "The court reiterates what it said yesterday: these threats must stop."
Registrar responds
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said in a statement Thursday that Carter's remarks were well placed and appreciated.
"At every step, the U.S. Department of Justice has taken a confrontational, adversarial approach. Election officials are acting in accordance with state and federal law," Logan said.
He added: "We will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of our employees and to remain focused on serving the voters of Los Angeles County so they can exercise their voting franchise."
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- Why did the Justice Department subpoena California election workers?
- The Los Angeles County registrar's office received grand jury subpoenas directed at employees, following DOJ demands that officials set aside ballots tied to people federal agencies call "likely" noncitizens. It is unclear whether the staff are targets of a criminal investigation.
- What did Judge David O. Carter rule on the DOJ's ballot request?
- He rejected the request to require California officials to set aside and stop processing ballots of voters on a list of 20,000 names, finding no legal basis and doubting the list's reliability. The DOJ is appealing to the 9th Circuit.
- When are the subpoenaed election workers due in court?
- The grand jury subpoenas instructed recipients to appear in court on Nov. 4, according to reporting that first appeared in The New York Times.
