Federal prosecutors in California have opened investigations into the state's elections following President Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud, according to a statement from a top Justice Department official Friday.
Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, announced on social media that his office is conducting "multiple election fraud investigations" in conjunction with the FBI. He did not elaborate on specifics but pledged that authorities would "follow the evidence wherever it leads and prosecute any violations of federal election law to the fullest extent."
The announcement coincided with a federal prosecutor's visit to Los Angeles County's ballot processing center. Election officials said they were notified late Thursday that a Justice Department attorney would observe ballot counting operations. The prosecutor arrived Friday morning, received an overview of the public observation program, and toured the facility's ballot processing area.
Such visits are routine, according to the registrar's office. Election officials regularly host observers from various backgrounds, including politicians, advocacy groups, and members of the public.
Trump triggered the focus on California's elections this week by claiming without evidence that Democrats are "trying to steal" the state's primary races, which concluded Tuesday. "There's BIG cheating by the Dumocrats in California. Votes are all tied up," Trump posted to his social media platform. "Under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. Why the vote counting DELAY???"
The lag in results stems from California's vote-by-mail system, which is standard across the state. Ballots postmarked on or before election day are eligible for counting if received within seven days after the vote. This timeline, combined with the volume of mail ballots cast, means winners in competitive races are often not announced for a week or more.
In the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral race, Democrat Karen Bass, now the incumbent mayor, was not declared the winner until eight days after the election. Bass is running for reelection and has advanced to the November general election.
Mail ballots have historically favored Democratic candidates in California, a deeply blue state where the vast majority of voters cast ballots by mail. As counting continues across multiple races, Trump and his political allies have intensified criticism of the vote-tallying process. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has joined the president in challenging the system's transparency and speed.
The primary structure allows the top two finishers to advance to November's general election regardless of party affiliation. As of Friday evening, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra had clinched a spot, with Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer competing for the second position. In the mayoral race, Trump-endorsed candidate Spencer Pratt is fighting to take on Bass in the general election, while currently trailing Democrat Nithya Raman.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Federal prosecutors investigating elections based on Trump's unproven fraud claims sets a concerning precedent for using law enforcement resources to validate debunked partisan narratives."
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