The Department of Justice has issued warnings to states about counting noncitizen votes, intensifying the debate over election integrity.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent letters to at least ten states, warning election officials of potential criminal prosecution if noncitizen votes are counted in upcoming elections. These letters, issued by Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, warn that “Any election officer, including the chief election officer of the state, who… facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability.”
📰 DETAIL: The letters demand a response within five days on how states plan to comply with federal election laws, though they are not legally binding subpoenas. This move is part of President Donald J. Trump’s broader effort to increase election integrity.
🎯 IMPACT: The DOJ’s actions have sparked pushback from Democrats and Republicans-in-name-only (RINOs), with Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson (R-UT) complaining about receiving a “love letter… from the DOJ sprinkled throughout with threats of criminal prosecution.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I’m sure I’m not the only chief election officer of a state who is being targeted for following state and federal laws by resisting DOJ’s demands for private voter data that have thus far been ruled illegal by at least a dozen courts,” said Lt. Gov. Henderson.
👀 FLASHBACK: President Trump has long warned that the U.S. lacking basic safeguards such as voter ID leaves the country open to noncitizen voting and other forms of electoral fraud. Research suggests that such voting does take place, despite being unlawful, and that it tends to benefit Democrats, sometimes decisively.
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