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Judge Orders Trump Team to Detail Voter Removal Demands
· Confirmed
In Short: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to identify states it sent demands to remove specific voters.
In a hearing Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to disclose the states it sent demands to remove specific voters, set aside ballots, or refuse to issue ballots since July 1.
The plaintiffs, including three national Democratic organizations, the Nevada Democratic Party, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, and a California voter who is a naturalized citizen, have aimed to unite various lawsuits against Trump’s election interference efforts into a single legal challenge.
The judge did not reach Democrats’ request for a temporary restraining order but partially granted their request for discovery.
The plaintiffs argued that Trump’s actions were part of a pattern of intimidation meant to frighten officials into complying with the administration’s demands to unlawfully remove voters from the rolls.
The plaintiffs cited Trump’s threats to 'nationalize the voting' and jail California election officials as part of this intimidation.
The judge expressed concern about the plaintiffs' standing to bring the case, but said Democrats can rely on any new information the federal government provides in discovery to bolster their standing claim.
The plaintiffs argued that the Trump administration's actions were meant to intimidate and coerce election officials who aid and urge registered voters to cast ballots, as well as lawful voters, particularly naturalized citizens, who seek to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
The plaintiffs also noted that the Republican official asking a federal judge to block certification of Texas’ upcoming election results once claimed without evidence that more people voted than were registered in 17 counties in 2020.
The plaintiffs' argument requires a 'fairly long chain of speculative possibilities that depend on action by third parties,' according to Dibblee, a representative for the plaintiffs.
The Department of Justice is warning local election officials in California to cooperate with the administration to identify noncitizens on a list of registered voters or face potential legal action.
Attorney Bilal Essayli notes that his office is providing a list of 1,133 'likely aliens' and asks local officials to commit to working with DOJ and DHS to identify who on the list is a citizen and who is not within 48 hours.
Background
The order came after the BBC complained that Trump had delayed his appearance, with Charles Tobin, a lawyer representing the BBC, stating in court that they had not been able to depose the plaintiff despite two months left in the discovery period.
What's confirmed
- In a hearing Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to disclose the states it sent demands to remove specific voters, set aside ballots, or refuse to issue ballots since July 1.
- The plaintiffs, including three national Democratic organizations, the Nevada Democratic Party, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, and a California voter who is a naturalized citizen, have aimed to unite various lawsuits against Trump’s election interference efforts into a single legal challenge.
- The judge did not reach Democrats’ request for a temporary restraining order but partially granted their request for discovery.
- The plaintiffs argued that Trump’s actions were part of a pattern of intimidation meant to frighten officials into complying with the administration’s demands to unlawfully remove voters from the rolls.
- The plaintiffs cited Trump’s threats to 'nationalize the voting' and jail California election officials as part of this intimidation.
- The judge expressed concern about the plaintiffs' standing to bring the case, but said Democrats can rely on any new information the federal government provides in discovery to bolster their standing claim.
- The plaintiffs argued that the Trump administration's actions were meant to intimidate and coerce election officials who aid and urge registered voters to cast ballots, as well as lawful voters, particularly naturalized citizens, who seek to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
- The plaintiffs also noted that the Republican official asking a federal judge to block certification of Texas’ upcoming election results once claimed without evidence that more people voted than were registered in 17 counties in 2020.
- The plaintiffs' argument requires a 'fairly long chain of speculative possibilities that depend on action by third parties,' according to Dibblee, a representative for the plaintiffs.
- The Department of Justice is warning local election officials in California to cooperate with the administration to identify noncitizens on a list of registered voters or face potential legal action.
- Attorney Bilal Essayli notes that his office is providing a list of 1,133 'likely aliens' and asks local officials to commit to working with DOJ and DHS to identify who on the list is a citizen and who is not within 48 hours.
What's still developing
- Police earlier closed a central New Delhi park in an attempt to stifle near-daily demonstrations calling for the election authority chief's resignation over the removal of more than 130 million people from voter lists.
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