DOJ Subpoenas LA Election Staff

Federal prosecutors served grand jury subpoenas on employees at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office.

The registrar's office confirmed on Thursday that the subpoenas arrived last week. The documents instruct the named staff members to appear in court on November 4.

This legal move escalates the conflict between the Department of Justice and California election officials. The dispute centers on a list of 20,000 names that federal officials flag as likely noncitizens.

In recent weeks, the DOJ sent letters to local election officials in California. Those letters warned that refusing to cooperate could result in federal scrutiny and legal exposure. The correspondence stated that tabulating ballots for people identified as noncitizens could make officials aiders and abettors of a federal crime.

The subpoenas arrived one day after U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected a DOJ request. The Justice Department had asked the court to force California officials to set aside ballots from voters on the 20,000-name list. Carter found no legal basis for the demand. He also determined the list lacked reliability and warned that the effort could disenfranchise eligible voters.

Judge Carter warned DOJ officials during a Tuesday hearing to stop threatening state and county employees. He repeated that message in an order issued Wednesday evening. The Justice Department is now appealing his ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan thanked Carter for his comments in a statement on Thursday. Logan said the judge’s admonishment was well placed. He described the DOJ’s approach as confrontational and adversarial at every step. Logan added that the county will take necessary steps to ensure employee safety while serving voters.