DOJ subpoenas LA election staff for Nov. 4 court appearance

Election workers in Los Angeles now face federal legal proceedings after the Department of Justice issued subpoenas to employees at the local registrar’s office. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder confirmed on Thursday that its staff received grand jury subpoenas last week. The documents direct the recipients to appear in court on Nov. 4.

The subpoenas follow a series of letters sent by the Justice Department to California election officials in recent weeks. Those letters warned that local officials risked federal scrutiny and legal exposure if they refused to cooperate with federal demands. The DOJ specifically asked local offices to set aside ballots cast by individuals flagged as likely noncitizens. The letters stated that staff who tabulate such ballots could become aiders and abettors to a federal crime.

A federal judge recently rejected the Justice Department’s request to force California election officials to halt processing for voters on a specific list. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled that the government had no legal basis for the demand. He also found the list of 20,000 names to be unreliable. Carter expressed concern that the effort would disenfranchise eligible voters and create chaos in the election process.

During a Tuesday hearing, Judge Carter warned Justice Department officials that threats against state and county employees should cease immediately. He repeated this instruction in a court order issued Wednesday evening. The judge wrote that the court reiterated its message that these threats must stop. The Justice Department is currently appealing Carter’s ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Dean Logan, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, responded to the judge’s comments in a statement on Thursday. Logan said the judge’s admonishment was well placed and appreciated. He noted that the Justice Department has taken a confrontational and adversarial approach at every step. Logan stated that election officials are acting in accordance with state and federal law.

Logan added that the office will take necessary steps to ensure the safety of its employees. He said the team remains focused on serving Los Angeles County voters so they can exercise their voting rights. A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment about the specific subpoenas. It remains unclear whether the staff who received the subpoenas are the primary targets of a criminal investigation.

The legal battle centers on how federal and state authorities manage voter rolls. The DOJ argues that local officials must act on federal flags regarding noncitizenship. Local officials counter that they must follow state law while processing ballots. The Nov. 4 court date will determine the immediate next steps for the subpoenaed employees.