Federal Actions Address Alleged Voter Fraud by Non-Citizens in Minnesota and California

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has focused its efforts on addressing suspected cases of non-citizen voter fraud in Minnesota. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter shared on ‘Saturday in America’ that federal prosecutors have charged 50 people with voting-related crimes recently. This move is part of a broader strategy as the DOJ appeals a Florida judge’s decision that declared unconstitutional the federal law banning non-citizen voting.

In a separate development, the DOJ is pressuring election officials in California to verify and address non-citizen entries on voter rolls before the upcoming midterm elections in November. They have set a deadline for action on these concerns.

On October 12, Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter issued demands for California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan to verify the eligibility of certain voters. The DOJ has directed them to separate the ballots of those whose citizenship remains unproven. Failure to comply by the stipulated deadline may prompt the DOJ to seek emergency legal assistance.

According to DOJ spokespeople, thousands of potential voters across California, including Los Angeles County, might be non-citizens potentially ineligible to vote.

This issue should not be contentious as the law clearly states only American citizens can vote in federal elections. Allowing non-citizens to vote constitutes a federal crime, and California must prevent such occurrences, the spokesperson stated.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, has firmly responded to the allegations. During a news conference, he accused the administration of spreading baseless voter fraud claims, stating, There is no widespread voter fraud issue. It is a fabricated notion.

Bonta assured collaboration with California election officials to explore their legal options.

In an update from Los Angeles, Registrar Dean Logan announced that his office received a USB drive with sensitive voter data but chose not to open it due to cybersecurity concerns. The DOJ has yet to confirm if the cited individuals have engaged in illegal voting, as early voting in California is underway.