Federal Subpoenas: DOJ Serves LA Election Staff
Grand jury subpoenas were delivered to Los Angeles County employees as a federal judge rejected the Justice Department's demand to set aside thousands of ballots.
By Ryan Davidson ·
Los Angeles County election employees now face a November 4 court appearance after receiving grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office confirmed the documents were served last week. This legal move places individual staff members at the center of the administration’s push to identify noncitizens on state voter rolls.
The Justice Department sent letters to local California election officials in recent weeks. The correspondence warned that refusing to cooperate could result in federal scrutiny and legal exposure. The letters stated that officials who tabulate ballots for individuals flagged as likely noncitizens might become aiders and abettors to a federal crime. A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment regarding the specific subpoenas.
It is currently unclear if the subpoenaed staff are the primary targets of a criminal investigation. The subpoenas were issued one day after U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled against the Department of Justice. Carter rejected a request to require California officials to stop processing ballots for thousands of voters. Those voters appear on a federal list of 20,000 names described as likely noncitizens.
Judge Carter found no legal basis for the federal demand. He expressed doubt about the reliability of the list and raised concerns that the process would disenfranchise eligible voters and create chaos. The Department of Justice is appealing this decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Judge Carter warned Justice Department officials to cease threatening state and county employees. He reiterated this sentiment in an order issued Wednesday evening. The judge wrote that the threats must stop. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan thanked the judge for his comments.
Logan stated that the Justice Department has taken a confrontational and adversarial approach at every step. He said election officials are acting in accordance with state and federal law. Logan added that his office will take necessary steps to ensure employee safety while serving voters in Los Angeles County.
