Justice Department subpoenas California election officials

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 00:09 · Archive

The US Justice Department has issued subpoenas to California election officials over local election administration.

The US Justice Department has issued subpoenas to California officials in an escalation of its scrutiny of local election administration. The Associated Press obtained copies of three subpoenas sent on 21 and 24 October to employees of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, ordering them to appear in court on 4 November, the day after the election.

The documents request records, communications and documents related to letters sent in July and October by federal officials to state election officials outlining allegations of noncitizens on the state's voter rolls. The subpoenas also seek information about the office's 'methods for screening for unlawful voting by aliens' and efforts to prevent noncitizen votes from being counted. All four US attorneys in California were issuing subpoenas, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A letter accompanying a subpoena says it was issued 'in connection with an official criminal investigation being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations'. The issuance of a subpoena does not necessarily mean the person who receives it is the target of a criminal investigation. Dean Logan, the Los Angeles County registrar, said 'threats and intimidation have no place in elections'. A First Assistant US Attorney recently warned that 'any election official who knowingly processes the ballot of a noncitizen is opening themselves to legal jeopardy'. The Trump administration has separately sued to force California to set aside up to 20,000 ballots it suspects went to noncitizens.

How it is being reported

• Justice Department subpoenas California officials in escalation of its scrutiny of local electionsLOS ANGELES — The U.S. Justice Department has issued subpoenas to California officials in an escalation of its scrutiny of local election administration.TribLIVE · 29 Oct, 22:51
• Justice Department subpoenas California officials in escalation of its scrutiny of local electionsPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 29 Oct, 22:37

In this story: Justice Department · California · Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder · Dean Logan · Department of Homeland Security · Trump administration

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log