The U.S. Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas to state and local election officials in California as part of a criminal investigation into the state’s voter rolls, according to sources with direct knowledge. The subpoenas, sent between October 21 and October 24, mark a significant escalation in the federal government’s dispute with California over allegations that the state may have up to 20,000 non-citizens registered to vote.
The move follows a recent court ruling in which U.S. District Judge David Carter in Los Angeles rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to require California election officials to separate mail ballots from roughly 20,000 voters it claims are not U.S. citizens. Judge Carter stated that allowing such a separation would violate longstanding constitutional principles granting states authority to administer their own elections.
Subpoenas target specific officials
Three of the subpoenas obtained by CBS News were directed to officials at the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office. The subpoenas demand documents related to the county’s correspondence with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter, as well as records on the agency’s methods for screening for unlawful voting by non-citizens. Additional requests seek any evidence collected regarding non-citizen voters.
In a statement, Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan highlighted a portion of Judge Carter’s ruling in which the judge criticized the government for threatening to charge local officials who do not comply. Logan referenced the judge’s statement that “these threats must stop.”
Federal government maintains investigation focus
The Department of Justice has not publicly commented on the subpoenas or the ongoing investigation. However, the agency has previously stated that its efforts are aimed at ensuring the integrity of U.S. elections by identifying and addressing potential cases of unlawful voting.
California officials respond to legal pressure
Logan’s statement emphasized that election officials are acting in accordance with state and federal law, and he welcomed Judge Carter’s admonishment of the government’s confrontational approach. The subpoenas come amid a broader clash between the federal government and states over election administration, particularly in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
Background on the voter roll dispute
The federal government’s claims about non-citizens on California’s voter rolls have been a source of contention. California officials have consistently denied the existence of widespread unlawful voting, arguing that the state’s voter registration systems include safeguards to prevent non-citizens from registering. The state has also pointed to court rulings that affirm its authority to manage its own elections without federal interference.
The October 21–24 subpoenas represent the latest development in a legal and political dispute that has drawn attention to the broader issue of election integrity and the balance of power between federal and state authorities in overseeing voting processes.