(Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)
President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has sent letters to election officials in all 50 states demanding that they preserve election records or face potential criminal penalties, which could lay the groundwork for challenges to contested races following Tuesday’s midterms.
The DOJ confirmed the nationwide mailing in a Friday court filing, according to Democracy Docket. The letters, sent Thursday, reminded state officials of a federal law requiring them to retain election records for 22 months and warned that violations could result in prison time or fines.
PBS NewsHour White House correspondent Liz Landers reported Friday that three secretaries of state confirmed receiving the letters.
“3 secretaries of state confirmed to me that they received letters from the Dept of Justice in the last day remiding them to preserve election records (which is already required by law for 22 months) and threatening them with jail time or a fine if they don’t comply,” Landers wrote on X, sharing a two-page letter addressed to Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter signed the letter.
“Election Day is fast approaching, and I write to ensure that your office is protecting the integrity of your state’s elections and following federal recordkeeping requirements,” McCotter wrote.
He cited several historically close elections, including the 2000 presidential race in Florida, which was decided by approximately 500 votes, before reminding Read of his obligations under federal law.
“It is a crime to willfully fail to comply with Section 20701. Such a failure is punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine,” McCotter warned. “It is also unlawful to willfully steal, destroy, conceal, mutilate, or alter these records under Section 20702.”
The letter concluded by thanking Read for his “commitment to ensuring election integrity.”
Democracy Docket also obtained copies of the same letter, signed by McCotter, sent to officials in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
The post BREAKING: Trump DOJ Demands States Preserve Election Records, Setting Stage to Contest Races first appeared on Mediaite.
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