DOJ subpoenas hit local election staff

Federal prosecutors served criminal grand jury subpoenas on three Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder workers late this week. The orders compel the officials to testify and hand over internal documents related to a Justice Department probe into alleged noncitizen voting.

The legal pressure intensified as the county prepares for Tuesday’s election. Workers from the Registrar-Recorder’s Office are ordered to appear in federal court in Santa Ana on Wednesday morning. Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan stated that threats and intimidation have no place in elections. Although Logan has not been directly subpoenaed, his office remains under the shadow of the investigation.

The dispute centers on 20,000 state ballots that the administration demanded be set aside. Prosecutors argue that noncitizens voting dilutes the votes of lawful citizens. The subpoenas require the county to produce emails, text messages, and any evidence suggesting an alien has voted. This includes communications from apps like Signal and lists of employees who received directives to identify noncitizen voters.

A timeline of recent developments shows the rapid escalation of the conflict. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter previously ruled the administration’s allegations not credible. On Friday, a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 in favor of California. The judges declined to let the federal government override state election procedures before the vote is counted.

Labor unions and voting rights groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday to block the investigation. The Service Employees International Union described the subpoenas as a coordinated campaign to coerce local officials. The suit warns that criminal prosecution could lead to the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of registered voters if ballot processing halts.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the move as an escalating attack on elections officials. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District said that those who aid noncitizens in voting are aiding a criminal offense. He added that his office will hold anyone accountable for unlawful participation in the elections.

The case is now positioned to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices may decide whether the federal government can force the county to halt the counting of the contested ballots before polls close. The 9th Circuit panel noted that granting federal relief might cause immense hardship and risk the entire tabulation process. With hundreds of thousands of ballots already returned, the legal fight continues to unfold against the backdrop of the active election.