Justice Department warns election officials
The gist
The Justice Department told state election officials that failing to comply with a records law is a crime.
The letters and subpoenas land days before the midterms, with unions now suing.
How it unfolded
- Oct 24, 2026The Justice Department warned election officials across California, less than two weeks before the midterms, that they could be targets of federal action.
- Oct 27, 2026At a hearing, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said it would be wise for any threats to state and county elected employees to cease immediately.
- Oct 28, 2026In a written ruling, Carter rejected the DOJ's attempt to force California to set aside ballots from roughly 20,000 voters and wrote, "These threats must stop."