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U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) added his voice to those objecting to letters sent by the U.S. Department of Justice to voting officials in California demanding that they set aside certain ballots so they can be reviewed by federal law enforcement.
The letters were received by election officials in multiple counties, including Contra Costa County, which was told to set aside about 400 ballots within 48 hours. It was unclear what would happen if the demand was not met.
The letters say that the ballots are suspected of being cast by noncitizens. Federal prosecutors asked local officials to set aside the ballots in question and allow them to be reviewed.
DeSaulnier and others criticized the demand as an attempt to manipulate the vote, which has been a concern of local, state, and federal officials ever since Donald Trump’s election to a second, non-consecutive term in 2024.
Many cited Trump’s lies about the 2020 election that culminated in the attack on Congress and the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as reasons to be skeptical of claims about voter fraud.
DeSaulnier said there was no reason to doubt the process currently used to verify voter eligibility without oversight by the federal government.
“I echo Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Kristin Connelly in her commitment to ensuring elections in our community and across the country are secure, free, and fair,” DeSaulnier said in a statement.
He said he was confident the election was being conducted in accordance with local, state and federal law and said he was concerned about the apparent lack of independence shown by the Department of Justice during the Trump administration.
He noted the DOJ’s letter came the same day it took preemptive action to block election results in Alaska if the president’s preferred candidate did not win.
“I am deeply concerned by the escalating weaponization of the Justice Department to interfere with the November 3rd election,” DeSaulnier said.
The Department of Justice also announced last week that 28 people in California were charged with unlawful voting. The DOJ made similar demands to state officials to provide details about voter lists and identities.
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