After suing California, Justice Department charges more than two dozen in a sweep targeting noncitizen voters
Summary
The Justice Department threatened California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next month's midterm elections, The Philadelphia Inquirer, ABC News, PBS NewsHour and NBC News reported on Wednesday 14 October, giving California election officials 48 hours to prove the U.S. citizenship of the flagged voters or withhold their ballots, according to the LA Times, and Fortune said the administration has made the hunt for noncitizen voters a priority this year, even though the problem is exceptionally rare. On Thursday 15 October, the Trump administration sued California election officials, asking a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots from people the federal government has identified as 'likely' noncitizens, about 20,000 voters according to the LA Times and more than 20,000 according to CBS News, and state officials blasted the lawsuit, the LA Times said. The administration then warned that local officials who process ballots submitted by suspected noncitizen voters are putting themselves at risk of criminal investigation and potential prosecution, The Philadelphia Inquirer and PBS NewsHour reported. On Monday 19 October, federal authorities charged 28 foreign nationals in California who, authorities said, have illegally registered and voted in U.S. elections, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the LA Times reported, ABC News and PBS NewsHour reporting more than two dozen charged.
Latest: Federal authorities charged 28 foreign nationals in California who, authorities said, have illegally registered and voted in U.S. elections, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, the LA Times saying the charges escalate an election battle between the state and the Trump administration just weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms, and Fortune calling those arrested green card holders.
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How it unfolded
Monday 19 October
Federal authorities charged 28 foreign nationals in California who, authorities said, have illegally registered and voted in U.S. elections, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, the LA Times saying the charges escalate an election battle between the state and the Trump administration just weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms, and Fortune calling those arrested green card holders.
- 13:47FortuneFeds arrest more than two dozen green card holders in California for allegedly voting, weeks before the midterms
- 13:22LA TimesFeds arrest alleged noncitizen voters in California amid broader election fight with state
- 13:08The Philadelphia InquirerJustice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting alleged noncitizen voters
- 12:53PBS NewsHourJustice Department charges more than 2 dozen foreign nationals in California sweep targeting noncitizen voters
- 11:38ABC NewsJustice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting noncitizen voters
- 10:46The Philadelphia InquirerJustice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting noncitizen voters
Friday 16 October
- 19:30PBS NewsHourDOJ says California officials who process ballots from suspected noncitizens risk prosecution
- 18:29The Philadelphia InquirerCalifornia officials who process ballots from suspected noncitizens risk prosecution, US warns
Thursday 15 October
The Trump administration sued California election officials to block the state from counting mail-in ballots from people the federal government has identified as 'likely' noncitizens, The Philadelphia Inquirer and PBS NewsHour reported, about 20,000 voters according to the LA Times and more than 20,000 according to CBS News, and state officials blasted the lawsuit, the LA Times said.
- 15:54PBS NewsHourTrump administration sues California to block counting of alleged noncitizen mail ballots
- 15:52CBS NewsJustice Department sues California over noncitizens getting ballots
- 15:21The NY TimesTrump Administration Sues California Over Voter Rolls
- 15:10The Philadelphia InquirerTrump administration sues California to block state from counting alleged noncitizen mail-in ballots
- 15:04LA TimesJustice Dept. sues California, asks court to force state to stop counting 20,000 ballots
- 13:15The Philadelphia InquirerTrump administration sues California over alleged noncitizens on the state's voter rolls
- 13:06BloombergTrump Administration Sues California Over Voter Citizenship List
Wednesday 14 October
The Justice Department threatened California with possible legal action and ordered the state to review a list of people the federal government believes may have received mail ballots for next month's midterm elections despite not being U.S. citizens, giving California election officials 48 hours to prove the U.S. citizenship of the flagged voters or withhold their ballots, according to the LA Times.
- 15:19PBS NewsHourJustice Department threatens California with legal action over claim of noncitizens on voter rolls
- 14:37NBC NewsJustice Department threatens legal action against California over alleged noncitizen voters
- 13:38LA TimesJustice Dept. demands California prove citizenship for lists of voters or withhold ballots
- 13:19Fortune‘Serious doubts about the reliability of your data’: DOJ gives California 48 hours to review list of alleged noncitizens who got mail ballots
- 12:36ABC NewsJustice Department threatens California with legal action over claim of noncitizens on voter rolls
- 12:22The Philadelphia InquirerJustice Department threatens California with legal action over claim of noncitizens on voter rolls
- 12:09CBS NewsDOJ tells California to review whether noncitizens got mail ballots