Justice Department Issues Grand Jury Subpoenas to California Election Workers in Los Angeles

The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to election workers in Los Angeles, escalating tensions with California election officials over the Trump administration's efforts to identify noncitizens on the state's voter rolls.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office confirmed to NPR on Thursday that it received grand jury subpoenas directed at employees last week.

The confirmation follows reporting first in The New York Times that at least two employees at the registrar's office were served grand jury subpoenas with instructions to appear in court on 4 November.

In recent weeks, the DOJ sent letters to local election officials in California warning they could risk significant federal scrutiny and legal exposure if they refuse to cooperate with DOJ demands to set aside ballots pertaining to people federal officials have flagged as 'likely' noncitizens.

The letters warned that if persons knowingly tabulate ballots cast by individuals identified by federal agencies as noncitizens, they risk becoming aiders and abettors to a federal crime.

A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about the subpoenas. It is unclear whether the staff who received the subpoenas are targets of a criminal investigation at this point.

News of last week's subpoenas comes a day after a federal judge in California rejected a DOJ request to require California election officials to set aside and stop processing the ballots of thousands of voters on a list of 20,000 names federal officials say are 'likely' noncitizens.

US District Judge David O. Carter found there was no legal basis for the DOJ's demand and the court was not convinced its list was reliable. The judge also raised concerns the effort would disenfranchise eligible voters and create election chaos.

The DOJ is appealing his ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

At a hearing in Carter's courtroom on Tuesday, the judge warned DOJ officials it would be wise for any threats to state and county elected employees to cease immediately. He repeated that message in the order issued Wednesday evening, writing that the threats must stop.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan expressed gratitude for Carter's comments in a statement Thursday. He said the judge's admonishment about threats was well placed, adding that at every step the DOJ has taken a confrontational, adversarial approach while election officials are acting in accordance with state and federal law.

Logan added they will take whatever steps necessary to ensure employee safety and to remain focused on serving Los Angeles County voters so they can exercise their voting franchise.