The Department of Justice announced charges against 63 people across 15 states Monday for election-related crimes, marking the latest crackdown on alleged voter fraud just one day before the midterm elections.
The charges involve illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and false claims of U.S. citizenship, according to a DOJ press release. Four of those charged were illegal immigrants, while the citizenship status of others was not made immediately clear, meaning they may have been in the country lawfully but not eligible to vote.
The announcement brings the total number of people charged with voting fraud-related offenses since President Donald Trump returned to office to 239, according to the department. The DOJ said it has charged 195 noncitizens across 25 states with illegal voting and registration offenses in the past nine weeks.
“These foreign nationals allegedly took advantage of the trust of the American people and flouted the laws that govern our nation’s elections,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “This Department of Justice will continue investigating and prosecuting voter fraud to restore confidence in our electoral system.”
Individuals charged on Monday span across Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey, Wisconsin, New York, Utah, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania.
Some of those charged registered to vote as far back as 2000 despite knowing they were not U.S. citizens, prosecutors alleged. Others charged registered to vote and cast their ballots the same day despite not being eligible, the DOJ alleged.
The charges come as the Trump administration escalates its efforts to identify noncitizens on voter rolls nationwide. Trump has made election integrity of utmost importance during his second term.
The DOJ also asked the Supreme Court on Monday to intervene in its dispute with California over more than 20,000 registered voters identified by the Trump administration as suspected noncitizens.
SUPREME COURT REJECTS DOJ BID TO SET ASIDE 20,000 CALIFORNIA BALLOTS FROM SUSPECTED NONCITIZENS
The high court rejected the DOJ’s appeal just hours after it filed an emergency petition. The justices declined to intervene without any noted dissents, leaving intact lower court decisions denying the administration’s request.
Federal officials contend the voters’ citizenship must be verified before their ballots are counted and requested that the ballots be set aside. California officials, however, say the government’s list contains substantial inaccuracies and risks disenfranchising eligible citizens.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
