During a press conference in Los Angeles, First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli spoke alongside LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. They discussed the developments in a terrorism investigation. On the same day, Essayli addressed allegations of voter fraud in California.
Essayli stated that it is likely individuals will face charges related to alleged voter fraud in California. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive audit of the state’s voter roll. This audit was an effort he and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, had been pursuing for the past year.
Controversy arose after Republican lawmakers questioned the Los Angeles mayoral race. GOP candidate Spencer Pratt did not advance to a runoff despite maintaining the second position when polls closed on June 2. Former President Trump described the election as ‘rigged’ and criticized California’s voting process on social media.
California’s primary vote count often takes time due to mail-in ballots that must be postmarked by Election Day. These ballots must reach county election offices by June 9, extending the counting period.
Essayli announced multiple election fraud investigations, though he provided no specific details. He criticized California’s election system for its structural vulnerabilities. His concerns included the state’s allowance of mail-in voting and not requiring photo ID at polls. These practices are often cited by Trump as contributing to voter fraud, despite a lack of evidence supporting such claims.
Essayli accused state officials of permitting noncitizens to vote, which is against federal law, but he did not present any supporting evidence. While reports indicate instances of noncitizens voting are uncommon, the Trump administration has expressed ongoing concerns about various forms of voter fraud.
The Justice Department has sued California to access voter registration records under the Help America Vote Act. It has also initiated investigations into alleged voter fraud statewide. Essayli described California as susceptible to different types of fraud, including hospice, healthcare, and election fraud.
The California Secretary of State’s Office did not immediately provide comments on the issue when contacted by The Hill.
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