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Judge Blocks DHS Voter-Fraud Probes in California

3:19 PM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: A Biden-appointed federal judge in California halted certain investigations into suspected illegal voting just days before the midterms.

A Biden-appointed federal judge in California, District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, ruled Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must halt certain investigations into suspected illegal voting, citing concerns over voter intimidation.

Martínez-Olguín, who was born in Mexico and nominated to the federal bench by President Joe Biden in 2022, stated in her ruling that the activist groups suing DHS had demonstrated they were likely to succeed in their claim that DHS had violated the Voting Rights Act's prohibition on intimidating voter assistance and mobilization.

The judge delayed enforcement of her order until Friday, giving the Trump administration time to appeal, and set the restrictions to expire on Election Day unless otherwise ordered.

DHS spokespersons told Fox News Digital that the department is 'laser focused on identifying, prosecuting, and removing aliens who vote and dilute the votes of U.S. citizens.' They added, 'ONLY Americans should elect American leaders.'

Before becoming a federal judge, Martínez-Olguín spent about six years at the American Civil Liberties Union, a progressive civil rights organization, where she worked on women's and immigrants' rights issues.

The ruling comes as President Joe Biden has been notably absent from the campaign trail, with former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris stepping up their efforts to support Democratic candidates in key battleground states.

Meanwhile, the United States is in debt to the tune of $40 trillion, and the US Treasury is releasing checks to over 950,000 Americans across 30 states who were enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg launched 'The Deciding Decade' in 2020, and Cook Political notes that anything less than a strong Democratic turnout could raise Republican hopes and Democratic fears of an 'enthusiasm' gap for the upcoming midterms.

The decision also highlights the ongoing tensions between federal agencies and activist groups over voter rights and election security, particularly in the lead-up to the midterms.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• A Biden-appointed federal judge in California, District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, ruled Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must halt certain investigations into suspected illegal voting, citing concerns over voter intimidation.
• Martínez-Olguín, who was born in Mexico and nominated to the federal bench by President Joe Biden in 2022, stated in her ruling that the activist groups suing DHS had demonstrated they were likely to succeed in their claim that DHS had violated the Voting Rights Act's prohibition on intimidating voter assistance and mobilization.
• The judge delayed enforcement of her order until Friday, giving the Trump administration time to appeal, and set the restrictions to expire on Election Day unless otherwise ordered.
• Before becoming a federal judge, Martínez-Olguín spent about six years at the American Civil Liberties Union, a progressive civil rights organization, where she worked on women's and immigrants' rights issues.
• The ruling comes as President Joe Biden has been notably absent from the campaign trail, with former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris stepping up their efforts to support Democratic candidates in key battleground states.
• Meanwhile, the United States is in debt to the tune of $40 trillion, and the US Treasury is releasing checks to over 950,000 Americans across 30 states who were enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans.
• Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg launched 'The Deciding Decade' in 2020, and Cook Political notes that anything less than a strong Democratic turnout could raise Republican hopes and Democratic fears of an 'enthusiasm' gap for the upcoming midterms.
• The decision also highlights the ongoing tensions between federal agencies and activist groups over voter rights and election security, particularly in the lead-up to the midterms.

What's still developing

• "expressly designed to resolve the discrepancies."
• "We have no plans to question or investigate people we believe to be U.S. citizens."
• 📲 Follow the midterms & more in the NPR App Some key voters say deep frustration and disappointment with President Trump are motivating their election plans just weeks before Election Day.
• "I've been disappointed," said Charles P., 43, who identified as a Democrat.
• "I will … terminate (President Joe Biden's) electric vehicle mandate. If you want to buy an electric car, that's fine, but you're going to be able to buy every other form of car also."
• He told Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram after last month’s debt milestone that while the number itself is “a big distraction,” two factors have him worried: Congress’s inaction and rising interest rates.
• The president said this month he would send every American adult a $5,000 " Trump dividend " if Republicans maintained control of the House and Senate in November.
• In a 31-page ruling, U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz of the Southern District of Florida dismissed federal charges against Chelsea Cox, a woman originally from Jamaica who voted in the 2020 presidential election despite not being a U.S. citizen.
• Now his rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is turning Talarico’s nearly two-week absence from the campaign trail into a political weapon, questioning the candidate’s whereabouts as the November midterms approach.
• President Joe Biden is making a rare jump into the 2024 political battleground fray since taking a step back after ending his reelection bid.
• “I pledged to protect and preserve Medicare and Social Security, which were on the verge of RUIN by Joe Biden, who foolishly and maliciously let tens of millions of Illegal Aliens into our Country, and we are doing just that for America’s Seniors,” the president continued.
• “On Nov. 3, every seat in the House is on the ballot, along with 35 Senate seats and 36 governors,” said Clinton.

Sources

• Fox Newslink
• NPRlink
• Politifactlink
• Voxlink
• Businessinsiderlink
• Fox Newslink
• Thenerdstashlink
• Nbcphiladelphialink
• Oannlink
• Dailywirelink
• Cookpoliticallink
• Warpbeatlink
• Thebulwarklink
• WarpBeat — background on DOJ Arrests Over Two Dozen Noncitizens in California Voter Fraud Sweep link
• The Amateur Law Professor — video link