DOJ Subpoenas Los Angeles and Orange County Election Officials Days After Judge Ordered It to Stop Threatening Them

Federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas to Los Angeles and Orange County election officials the week of Oct. 26, part of a Justice Department push — per Bloomberg Law, confirmed by CalMatters — for evidence noncitizens voted. Orange County DHS agents sought unredacted voter records on 60 people; Los Angeles prosecutors subpoenaed three employees to testify Nov. 4, the day after the election. This followed a hearing where Judge David O. Carter told the government threats against election employees "must stop," calling it unprecedented so close to an election.

Legal experts told CalMatters the subpoenas do not directly violate Carter's order but are unlikely to satisfy its intent, noting little reason to demand this mid-election given a five-year statute of limitations. Prosecutors have charged 28 people with registering as noncitizens — about 0.0001% of registered voters.

Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan called the approach "confrontational, adversarial" and the warning "well placed." DOJ said a subpoena does not mean someone is a target, and has appealed Carter's ruling to the Ninth Circuit.