US prosecutors subpoena at least 4 California election workers

At least 4 California election employees received federal grand-jury subpoenas in the preceding week, including 3 employees of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office and an Orange County official. That count comes from CalMatters and local reporting relayed by Fox News. The demands compel employees to provide records or testimony in a criminal investigation into suspected noncitizen voting.

The Justice Department had sent local election officials letters threatening criminal charges unless they set aside ballots associated with voters it suspected were noncitizens. In his 28 October ruling, US District Judge David O. Carter warned that threats against election employees must stop.

Latest · 31 October 2026

In a related voting dispute, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals again rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to set aside about 20,000 California ballots associated with voters it alleged were noncitizens. The majority said granting the request would contravene the Constitution’s Elections Clause. California officials said the administration had provided no evidence establishing that the people on its list were noncitizens. The ruling allows otherwise-valid ballots in that group to be counted; it denies emergency relief rather than finally resolving the lawsuit.

According to Fox News, US District Judge Trina Thompson temporarily barred federal officials from using threats of criminal prosecution, intimidation or coercion to make election workers stop processing ballots solely because the Trump administration alleges registered voters are ineligible. The order also prohibits demands to remove those voters from the rolls, refuse to issue them ballots, segregate their ballots or decline to count them solely on those allegations. Thompson found that the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security likely violated the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition against voter intimidation by threatening election workers with prosecution for processing such ballots. The order provides temporary relief, not a final ruling on the merits.

What records prosecutors want

The Los Angeles subpoenas demand records explaining how the county prevents noncitizens from voting. They also seek records concerning evidence the agency collected tending to indicate that a noncitizen voted in a federal election.

Prosecutors involved include staff in the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, where Bill Essayli is first assistant US attorney.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters’ Office received its new subpoena on 29 October, after federal agents obtained it the previous week. Department of Homeland Security agents seek unredacted voter records—records with personal details left visible—for 60 people.

Orange County Registrar of Voters Bob Page said 3 names in the new demand also appeared among the 20 registered voters whose records the county supplied in response to September subpoenas.

Justice Department declines to confirm subpoenas

Justice Department spokeswoman Kiersten Pels declined to comment on the reported subpoenas, calling them “alleged” and citing departmental policy. She said receiving a subpoena does not mean someone is an investigative target, and that the department generally does not subpoena targets.

Pels said unlawful voting is properly addressed through criminal prosecution, while maintaining that the department also has a civil remedy available.

County election officials said spot checks found inaccuracies in the federal government’s lists of suspected noncitizens and challenged the legality of the requests. Fox News said the administration has identified examples of noncitizens registered to vote but has not proved widespread illegal voting. Registration alone does not show that someone cast a ballot.

Los Angeles testimony is due after the election

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan called the prosecutors’ approach “confrontational” and “adversarial.” He said the county would take necessary steps to protect employees while remaining focused on serving voters.

The Los Angeles recipients are ordered to testify before a grand jury and bring the requested records on 4 November, the day after the election.