State election officials and lawmakers are consulting with a group of national security experts over concerns that the Trump administration may attempt to interfere in November’s midterm elections, according to a report from The Washington Post.
In parallel, Trump administration officials are hiring personal legal counsel in anticipation of potential congressional investigations if Democrats regain control of the House or Senate in the midterms, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
State-level preparations
A small, bipartisan group of about 10 current and former national security officials—including former Defense Department staff with experience countering authoritarianism abroad—has been advising state governments and congressional lawmakers on how to prepare for potential federal interference in the election. The effort, which has not been previously reported, includes consultations with officials from 10 states, including governors, election officials, and members of Congress from both parties. The group’s motivation, per its members, stems from a shared concern that the Trump administration could undermine the integrity of the vote to maintain Republican control of Congress.
The officials involved in the effort remain in contact with congressional staff, and at least one state has continued to meet with them as it works to address potential vulnerabilities. One member of the group stated that lawmakers and state leaders have expressed uncertainty about how to respond to potential federal interference. “All of them have said we're concerned but we don't know what to do,” the person said. “The outcome that we hope for is that states would be prepared for any contingencies should they arise.”
The group’s consultations focus on states and jurisdictions where tightly contested races will determine control of Congress for the remainder of President Trump’s term. The Washington Post’s reporting is based on interviews conducted over several months with two officials involved in the effort, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation.
Trump officials brace for investigations
Meanwhile, Trump administration officials—ranging from Cabinet secretaries to mid-level agency staffers—are hiring personal attorneys in advance of the midterms, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move comes as Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee have already sent multiple letters to Trump administration officials and allies, signaling potential areas of inquiry.
Lawyers familiar with the situation told the Journal that officials are weighing whether to hire counsel who would represent their individual interests rather than those of the administration as a whole. One lawyer described the situation as a “time-sensitive scramble” to secure preferred counsel before conflict-of-interest rules bar firms from representing multiple staffers simultaneously.
The Kennedy Center renovation has been cited as one issue Democrats may question Trump allies about if they retake control of one or both chambers of Congress. The White House has not publicly commented on the hiring of personal legal counsel by administration officials.