In brief
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order demanding the Justice Department cease its threats to prosecute election officials over alleged non‑citizen voting. The ruling came days before the November 3 midterm elections and has prompted the DOJ to subpoena California officials despite the order. Critics argue the administration is overreaching election oversight efforts, while the DOJ maintains its initiatives are lawful.
A U.S. judge has ordered the Justice Department to halt its alleged practice of threatening to prosecute state and local election officials who cooperate or do not cooperate with the Trump‑era administration’s demands about alleged non‑citizen voting, a move that comes days before the November 3 midterm elections.
Judge Trina Thompson, appointed by former President Joe Biden, issued a temporary restraining order on Friday (Oct 30) in a lawsuit brought by election workers’ unions and other groups. Thompson said the Justice Department’s threats to prosecute officials for failing to meet demands such as removing voters from rolls, refusing ballots to specific voters or segregating ballots violated federal law and threatened the public’s right to cast ballots on Election Day.
The Justice Department has not issued an immediate comment on the ruling. In the weeks leading up to the elections, the Trump administration had pursued aggressive election‑oversight tactics, pressuring states for voter‑registration data and citing the need for stricter measures to assure election security.
Despite the court order, the DOJ has subpoenaed California election officials in a separate action, seeking compliance with a list of alleged non‑citizen voters. “Threats and intimidation have no place in elections,” said Logan, a DOJ spokesperson, in a statement released after the subpoena was announced.
Election officials across the country are reportedly preparing for possible federal interference as the midterm race heats up, with political experts, Democratic and some Republican election officials describing the Trump administration’s actions as federal overreach.
