The Justice Department defended its authority to ensure “fair” elections in California after it launched multiple election fraud investigations coupled with litigation over voter registration.
California has long been known for liberal practices such as ballot harvesting, with a universal mail-in voting system that allows ballots to arrive a week after Election Day, and no voter ID requirements.
“The Department of Justice has statutory authority to enforce our nation’s election laws, including through requesting state voter rolls and monitoring returns when candidates for federal office are on the ballot,” Justice Department spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre told the Daily Signal.
“The department’s investigations into voter fraud in California are in line with this authority and will continue despite the state’s unwillingness to comply and reassure voters that their elections are, in fact, free, fair, and transparent,” Baldassarre continued. “Protecting election integrity is a top priority for the Trump administration.”
Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, posted on X just days after the recent contentious primary elections that his office launched fraud investigations and would “follow the evidence.”
“Without commenting on any specific investigation, my office has multiple election fraud investigations underway in coordination with @FBILosAngeles,” Essayli posted June 5 on X. “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and prosecute any violations of federal election law to the fullest extent.”
California, which takes a long time to count ballots in most years, garnered significant attention this year over the Los Angeles mayor’s race. On election night, it appeared Republican Spencer Pratt would be among the top two finishers to advance to the November general election before he was overtaken days later, with two Democrats—incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman—advancing.
