In the final weeks before a midterm election, a dispute has arisen between the federal government and the state of California over a list of roughly twenty thousand ballots tied to suspected noncitizens. Federal prosecutors demanded verification within forty-eight hours, invoking security, while state officials argue the list is unreliable, offers no reasons for its claims, and may strip citizens of their franchise. The quarrel sits at a familiar crossroads where the protection of elections and the protection of voters pull against each other. How an appeals court resolves it on Tuesday may de
Bonta Accuses DOJ of 'Weaponizing the Law' Over California Noncitizen Voter Ballot Demand
A list of 20,000 names, 48 hours to check it, and no stated reasons
Mark
Why did a list of 20,000 names become such a flashpoint?
Mimi
Because of the timing and the deadline. Federal prosecutors asked California counties to verify it within 48 hours, less than two weeks before the midterms.
Luke
And what do we actually know about the list itself?
Mimi
Not much. Bonta says it was only names, with no explanation of why anyone is ineligible.
Luke
That's his account, though. The Justice Department hasn't been quoted here explaining its basis, so that's a gap.
Mark
What about the claim that many people on it are citizens?
Mimi
Los Angeles officials said a high percentage were born in the United States. That's a worry for people who could be wrongly flagged.
Luke
Notice it's "high percentage," not a number. We don't have a count, and Newsom's claims about people who never voted or were from the wrong county are his own assertions.
Mark
But the DOJ did charge 28 people.
Mimi
Yes, lawful permanent residents accused of fraudulently registering. Essayli says that proves California is mailing ballots to noncitizens.
Luke
Twenty-eight charged is a long way from 20,000 flagged, and charges are allegations. Whether the arrests support the larger list is not shown here.
Mark
What happens next?
Mimi
An appeals court hears the dispute Tuesday.
Il Polso
- A federal demand to verify about 20,000 ballots landed less than two weeks before the midterms, leaving counties only 48 hours to respond.
- California's attorney general calls the move a weaponization of the law, accusing the Justice Department of acting on Trump's orders.
- Officials say many people on the list were born in the United States and that the federal government supplied names without any stated grounds for ineligibility.
- Election workers fear that rushing to act could disenfranchise citizens, and some counties have declined to respond to the letters by the deadline.
- Federal prosecutors cite recent charges against 28 lawful permanent residents as evidence, and an appeals court will hear the dispute on Tuesday.
In the final weeks before a midterm election, a dispute has arisen between the federal government and the state of California over a list of roughly twenty thousand ballots tied to suspected noncitizens. Federal prosecutors demanded verification within forty-eight hours, invoking security, while state officials argue the list is unreliable, offers no reasons for its claims, and may strip citizens of their franchise. The quarrel sits at a familiar crossroads where the protection of elections and the protection of voters pull against each other. How an appeals court resolves it on Tuesday may determine how much authority Washington can exert over the way states confirm who is allowed to vote.
On Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta went on television and accused the Trump administration of politicizing and weaponizing the law. He said the Justice Department was acting at the president's direction, and that its latest move against the state was improper.
The trouble began with a letter to California's election officials. With less than two weeks left before the midterms, federal prosecutors asked counties to verify, within 48 hours, about 20,000 ballots belonging to suspected noncitizens. The department framed the request as a security measure and asked officials to commit to sharing information so that Homeland Security could quickly check citizenship status.
State officials say the list does not hold up. Los Angeles officials reported that a high percentage of those named were born in the United States. Bonta noted that the federal government offered only names, with no explanation of why those people were supposedly ineligible, and said his office would review any evidence provided. Governor Gavin Newsom called the effort a clown show, arguing that it targeted people who had never voted or who were registered in other counties.
Federal prosecutors pointed to recent cases, including charges against 28 foreign nationals accused of registering to vote fraudulently. Those defendants are lawful permanent residents, not citizens, and the department argues that California is failing to comply with federal law. Some state officials did not act on the letters before the deadline, and that refusal led to the legal fight now headed to an appeals court on Tuesday.
On Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta went on MS Now and accused the Trump administration of "politicizing and weaponizing the law." He said the Justice Department was acting at Donald Trump's direction. "It is once again the United States Department of Justice politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies, and it is completely improper," he said.
The dispute began with a demand to California's election officials. Less than two weeks before the midterms, federal prosecutors asked them to verify, within 48 hours, a list of about 20,000 ballots belonging to suspected noncitizens. The Justice Department framed the request as a matter of security. It asked each county election official to commit to providing the information Homeland Security needs to quickly verify citizenship status. "With their help," the department said, "we can ensure the most secure election in California history."
California officials say the list does not hold up. Los Angeles officials said this week that a "high percentage" of the people on it were born in the United States. Election personnel across the state have raised concern that acting on the directive could disenfranchise citizens. Bonta has questioned the evidence directly. At a recent press conference he said the federal government provided only a list of names and nothing about why those people are supposedly ineligible. If the government has such information, he said, his office would be happy to review it, but none has been provided.
Governor Gavin Newsom was blunter. He posted on social media that the Justice Department was so desperate to invent "widespread voter fraud" that it sent counties lists of people who never voted, along with voters from the wrong county. He called it an "absolute clown show." Representative Pete Aguilar, who represents south-west San Bernardino county, wrote that voter intimidation has no place in the democracy.
The context matters. Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, yet in the run-up to the midterms the Justice Department has stepped up prosecutions of people accused of voting illegally without US citizenship. The California demand comes amid a wider Republican push to crack down on alleged voter fraud, particularly among undocumented immigrants.
Federal prosecutors also point to recent arrests. The Justice Department charged 28 foreign nationals with fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney, said in a statement that the arrests prove what the department has been saying: California is mailing ballots to noncitizens and refusing to comply with federal law, which makes it a crime for noncitizens to vote. The voting rights of American citizens, he said, must be protected. The defendants are lawful permanent residents, who have legal status in the US but are not citizens authorized to vote.
Some state officials did not act on the letters sent Friday, citing the fast-approaching election. That inaction set off a legal fight with the Justice Department. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday, a ruling that could shape how far federal officials can press states on voter citizenship checks so close to an election.
Citazioni salienti
It is once again the United States Department of Justice politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies, and it is completely improper.— Rob Bonta, California attorney general, on MS Now
California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law.— Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney
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Politics & Governance