California leader calls attack on alleged noncitizen voting ‘weaponizing the law’
California leader calls attack on alleged noncitizen voting ‘weaponizing the law’
California’s attorney general on Saturday rebuked the Trump administration’s efforts to quash alleged noncitizen voting, calling it “politicizing and weaponizing the law”.
Rob Bonta, the state’s attorney general, said the justice department acted at Donald Trump’s direction.
“It is once again the United States Department of Justice politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies, and it is completely improper,” he told MS Now.
Less than two weeks before the midterms, federal prosecutors called upon California election officials to verify within 48 hours a list of about 20,000 ballots belonging to suspected noncitizens. Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, but in the run-up to the midterm elections, the justice department has ramped up prosecutions of people accused of illegally voting while not holding US citizenship.
California’s election personnel have raised concern that the administration’s directive could disenfranchise citizens. Los Angeles officials said this week a “high percentage” of the individuals on the list were born in the United States.
“Trump’s DOJ is so desperate to invent ‘widespread voter fraud,’ it sent California counties lists of people who NEVER voted – and voters from the WRONG COUNTY. Absolute clown show!” California’s governor Gavin Newsom posted on social media.
“Voter intimidation has no place in our democracy,” Pete Aguilar, a congressman representing south-west San Bernardino county, said in a social media post.
The federal government’s oversight attempts come amid a national Republican effort to crack down on alleged voter fraud, particularly any cases among undocumented immigrants.
“We are asking each county election official to commit to working with us by providing the necessary information for DHS to quickly verify citizenship status. With their help, we can ensure the most secure election in California history,” the justice department said.
Bonta, the California attorney general, has raised questions about the evidence behind the suspected noncitizen ballots.
“All they provided was a list of people and nothing about why they’re purportedly ineligible. If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they’ve provided none,” Bonta said at a recent press conference.
The DoJ also charged 28 foreign nationals recently, accusing them of fraudulently registering to vote.
“Today’s arrests prove what we have been saying,” Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney, said in a statement. “California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law, which makes it a crime for noncitizens to vote. The voting rights of American citizens must be protected.”
The defendants are lawful permanent residents, who have legal status in the US but are not citizens authorized to vote.
Some state officials took no action on Friday’s letters, citing the fast-approaching election, which spurred a legal battle with the justice department. An appeals court is set to hear the matter on Tuesday.
Welford Christmas Tree Farm will provide trees for two rooms inside Downing Street.
As the chancellor finalises his first Budget, how are the “squeezed middle” feeling about costs?
Polls opened in Serbia on Sunday in what is set to be its most fiercely contested parliamentary election in more than 14 years, as a student-led movement seeks to oust the party of veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic.Polls in Serbia opened at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and close at 8:00 pm.
oz/al/ljv/sbk
Jo, a mother of three boys, says it is “exhausting” every day to get her sons to go to school.
The Living Roofs aim to boost biodiversity in urban areas, a city council report says.
The inmates make 10 wooden sharing boxes and one is unveiled outside HMP Peterborough.
Charities warn that the PM’s national care service pledge ignores disabled adults aged 18-65.
The live history destination says it could be the last chance to record life after the workhouse shut.
Tony Robinson, 79, says he has had a very eventful career and would “do it all again”.
A wildlife charity founder says it has left her “heartbroken, frustrated and angry”.
The Temple Footbridge over the Thames near Marlow closed in 2023 for safety reasons.
Police have launched a manhunt for the building’s owner and contractor after the multi-storey building collapsed while still under construction.
A new report says nearly half of women with endometriosis have lost income due to the condition.
When Mike Harding, a California transplant, spotted a majestic mansion in Celina, Tennessee, he thought he’d found the dream retirement home for himself and his wife, Julie. But those dreams ended abruptly when Mike suddenly went missing in 2022.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbians are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election that is seen as a showdown between the Balkan country’s populist leader Aleksandar Vucic and a movement of university students who led protests against him for almost two years.4 million voters get to choose from 18 parties hoping to enter the 250-member Parliament, the election has taken shaped as a referendum between Vucic’s right-wing Serbian Progressive Party and the youth-backed Students’ List.
The move will take funding for the 10-year programme to more than £40bn.
SEOUL, Oct 25 (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un returned from a surprise one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong, where he visited a historic Korean War memorial, North Korean state media said on Sunday. Kim visited the city on Saturday and returned by road, crossing a newly opened bridge that connects North Korea to its biggest international backer and trading partner.
Ukraine needs another satellite internet service, but a decent alternative to Elon Musk’s network doesn’t exist – yet.
A shooting near a college stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, left 11 with gunshot wounds Saturday night, officials said.
The Israeli Defense Forces announces restrictions on the movement of Palestinian workers in the run-up to Tuesday’s election.
Powered by WPeMatico