A lawsuit against California was readily justified as the Department of Justice announced charges against over two dozen noncitizens after the thing that never happens happened again.
Despite repeated confrontations with receipts, Democrats and their allies have dutifully maintained talking points on secure elections untainted by foreign influence. Monday, in the wake of CBS News’ Lesley Stahl dismissing investigations for allegedly sowing “distrust,” the Justice Department announced federal election crime charges against 28 noncitizens in California.
In a statement accompanying a press release, acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter expressed, “Every illegal vote cancels out the vote of a lawful American citizen.”
On X, he stated, “Today DOJ charged 28 noncitizens across California with federal election crimes. All were on the list of 20k we sent to California, which has refused to even look at the list. It’s not too late for California to step up & protect the votes of American citizens.”
Today DOJ charged 28 noncitizens across California with federal election crimes.
All were on the list of 20k we sent to California, which has refused to even look at the list.
It’s not too late for California to step up & protect the votes of American citizens. https://t.co/5QAlPwBBjm
— Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter (@PADAGMcCotter) October 19, 2026
According to the DOJ, all 28 noncitizens are said to be green card holders, and 11 of them were arrested as part of Operation Protect the Vote.
“The criminal charges include making false statements in a naturalization application and some of the defendants also are charged with fraudulent voter registration,” the press release explained. “Both charges are felonies that carry a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.”
“At least eight of these defendants allegedly voted more than once illegally, including some in the 2026 primary,” explained McCotter during Monday’s press conference.
THIS MORNING IN CA: Acting Deputy Attorney General @PADAGMcCotter announces charges against 28 Foreign Nationals in California for election crimes.
“Today’s charges demonstrate why that lawsuit [against CA over its voter rolls] is so important. The lawsuit is about preventing voter fraud that cancels out the votes of U.S. citizens. Enforcing federal law increases the integrity of elections — it increases confidence in elections.”
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) October 19, 2026
“This Department of Justice will not look the other way while noncitizens vote in federal elections,” he went on. “Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for California and L.A. County.”
Just last week, McCotter sent a letter to Peter Bollinger, the Assistant County Counsel in the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office, reminding that the DOJ had provided a list of over 20,000 noncitizens believed to be registered to vote in California that state and local officials continued to leave unaddressed.
Sharing that letter, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli commented, “California on Notice: Federal agencies identified over 20,000 suspected noncitizens registered to vote in California who have already been mailed ballots. Under 18 U.S.C. §§ 611 and 2, officials who knowingly tabulate unlawful ballots risk aiding and abetting a federal offense.”
“[The DOJ] urges the County and the Secretary of State to temporarily segregate the flagged ballots pending citizenship verification or face legal consequences,” he added.
California on Notice: Federal agencies identified over 20,000 suspected noncitizens registered to vote in California who have already been mailed ballots. Under 18 U.S.C. §§ 611 and 2, officials who knowingly tabulate unlawful ballots risk aiding and abetting a federal offense. @TheJusticeDept urges the County and the Secretary of State to temporarily segregate the flagged ballots pending citizenship verification or face legal consequences.
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 16, 2026
During the press conference, McCotter went on to explain that, following the complaint against L.A. and California, a motion for emergency relief was filed requesting a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, “until we can confirm whether they are in fact U.S. citizens. So, today’s charges demonstrate why that lawsuit’s so important.”
“I want to be very clear what the lawsuit’s about,” he added. “It’s about preventing voter fraud that cancels out the votes of U.S. citizens. Enforcing federal law increases the integrity of elections, it increases confidence in elections.”
Of course, the problem is not isolated to California as, along with numerous other examples, charges were made last week in Idaho, New York and North Carolina after a combined 16 noncitizens were accused of illegally voting in elections.
🗳️ Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 16 ALIENS for ILLEGAL VOTING @HSI_HQ
NC: 10 aliens have been charged for allegedly illegally voting in the 2024 elections.
NY: 5 aliens have been arrested and charged for allegedly illegally voting in a federal election.
ID: A Canadian national was charged for allegedly illegally voting in the 2022 general election.
Read more about each case here: https://t.co/CfYoTImEuA
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) October 16, 2026
Despite the charges, the lawsuit and further examples of noncitizens allegedly voting in American elections, California Attorney General Rob Bonta maintained the talking points, posting, “Let’s be clear about the facts: California has more than 23 million registered voters — the 28 cases of alleged voter fraud announced this morning represent.0001% of that total.”
“Isolated cases of voter fraud occur in red and blue states alike,” he went on. “As I’ve said repeatedly, any substantiated allegation of voter fraud should be taken seriously and, when supported by the facts and law, prosecuted. We have safeguards in place to protect election integrity, and they’re working.”
Let’s be clear about the facts: California has more than 23 million registered voters — the 28 cases of alleged voter fraud announced this morning represent .0001% of that total.
Isolated cases of voter fraud occur in red and blue states alike. As I’ve said repeatedly, any substantiated allegation of voter fraud should be taken seriously and, when supported by the facts and law, prosecuted.
We have safeguards in place to protect election integrity, and they’re working.
— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) October 20, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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