Judge blocks Trump administration from intimidating election officials

A federal judge issued an order Friday night preventing the Trump administration from threatening or intimidating election officials. The order was issued in response to pressure tactics used by the administration in the weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The eight-page ruling prohibits any action that could threaten, intimidate, or coerce state or local election officials or workers. This includes demands to stop processing ballots based on allegations of voter ineligibility.

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson, based in California, stated that high-ranking officials from the DOJ and DHS had engaged in a campaign to intimidate and coerce election workers. She warned that these actions could interfere with election administration and disenfranchise lawful voters.

The order was issued after the administration attempted to require states like California and Washington to separate ballots from individuals it claimed were noncitizens. An appeals court ruled against the administration in California, and the Washington case is still pending.

The Justice Department sent letters to election officials in 57 of California’s 58 counties, asking them to cooperate with investigations into illegal voting or face their own investigations. The letters included a list of 1,133 individuals suspected of being noncitizens.

The letters requested that election officials identify whether these individuals were citizens and, if not, segregate their ballots until their status could be confirmed. Officials were also asked to provide nonpublic information, such as Social Security numbers or driver’s licenses.