Justice Department threatens criminal prosecution for California election workers

The Trump administration has threatened to criminally prosecute local election workers in California who knowingly tabulate ballots belonging to noncitizen voters, escalating a federal dispute over voter roll purges. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter wrote to Los Angeles officials on Friday, stating that facilitating noncitizen voting in a federal election is a federal crime and that those who aid and abet such conduct face significant legal consequences.

President Donald Trump amplified the threat by reposting McCotter’s letter to social media, writing that the individuals involved would go to jail for a long period of time. This move follows a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against California, which alleges the state has refused to remove noncitizens from its voter rolls despite federal requests.

California officials characterized the federal actions as legally baseless and an effort to intervene in the state’s election process. Secretary of State Shirley Weber said the Justice Department’s push for access to protected voter data aims to cause chaos and fuel public distrust. Voting experts noted that while the legal challenges may have limited success, the administration is establishing a framework to potentially contest election results after Election Day.

Read the full story at abcnews.com.