Trump administration launches criminal probe into alleged illegal voting by noncitizens in California

The Trump administration has launched a criminal probe in California centred on claims that thousands of noncitizens are enlisted to vote in the state, issuing subpoenas to election officials as part of the effort. The development comes just days before the US midterm elections in which the president’s party is expected to see major losses.

Donald Trump has long described California’s elections as “corrupt” and “rigged”, and his administration has recently escalated efforts to cast doubt on election results long before voting has even concluded. Staff in the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder's office confirmed that some of its employees received grand jury subpoenas.

No place for threats and intimidation

Dean Logan, who heads the Los Angeles County registrar’s office, pushed back in a statement, noting that courts have repeatedly upheld that election officials are acting within the law, and that “threats and intimidation have no place in elections.”

“At every step, the US Department of Justice has taken a confrontational, adversarial approach,” Logan said. “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," Logan added.

This week, the Orange County Registrar of Voters also received a subpoena in the context of a criminal investigation. The office confirmed that the federal grand jury subpoenas demanded “unredacted voter registration information” for 77 possible registrants.