Federal Probe into California’s Election Process Underway

The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles has launched investigations into allegations of election fraud in California. This follows President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread irregularities after the June 2 primary elections.

Federal Investigation Initiated

On Friday, the U.S. attorney’s office confirmed the initiation of “multiple election fraud investigations” related to California’s elections. A prosecutor has been assigned to observe the vote-counting process in the county. Critics, primarily from conservative circles, have long targeted the state’s ballot processing system for its lengthy counting timelines.

These developments coincided with Trump’s claims of mass fraud tied to ongoing vote tabulation in California. With over 23 million registered voters, California is the most populous state in the U.S. Observers warn that making claims before final results are certified could fuel misinformation and public distrust.

Late-counted Democratic-leaning mail ballots have caused margins for Trump-backed candidates to narrow in key races. These include contests for governor and Los Angeles mayor. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, appointed by Trump, confirmed these activities alongside his visit to the Los Angeles County ballot center. Newsweek contacted the White House for comments outside regular hours.

Trump’s Unsubstantiated Claims

Trump reinforced his allegations in a discussion in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, claiming Democrats were manipulating the vote count. He mentioned, “You look at what’s happening—it’s getting tighter and tighter,” conveying suspicion about the election process.

Speaking later at the White House, Trump suggested that California election officials found suspicious mail-in ballots during counting. On Truth Social, he issued multiple posts alleging fraud related to mail-in ballots and the pace of vote tabulation. He wrote, “Watch California, everybody! Our Election process is as bad, or worse, than any Third World Country…Americans are ashamed of what is happening!”

Trump’s posts further accused Democrats of manipulation, stating, “Look what’s happening in California, the Dumocrats, right before our very eyes, are stealing the Vote.” He questioned the delay in vote counting despite the ongoing investigation.

In another post, he accused Democrats: “The Dumocrats are at it again! They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.”

California’s Voting System

California often votes Democratic in both presidential and statewide elections. Joe Biden won by a significant margin in 2020, supported by urban counties like Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Sacramento.

High turnout due to expanded mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic marked that election. Mail ballots represent roughly 80 percent of votes and can be received up to seven days post-Election Day if postmarked by the deadline. The “jungle” primary system used in gubernatorial and mayoral races often leads to prolonged counting periods.

Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom previously expressed concerns about extended counting. He highlighted how such delays could give rise to misinformation. “We must acknowledge that the longer the vote count takes, the more mis- and dis-information spreads,” he wrote.

Mike DuHaime of the Democracy Defense Project stressed the importance of integrity in elections. He noted that while accuracy is paramount, results should also be timely to prevent misinformation from spreading.

Historical Claims of Election Fraud

Trump’s current allegations resonate with the claims posed after his 2020 presidential defeat. They include unproven assertions concerning mail-in ballots and voting machine irregularities in swing states.

Following that election, Trump’s allies initiated over 60 legal challenges in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan. Courts consistently dismissed these accusations due to insufficient evidence or a lack of legal basis. These rejections came from judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic leaders.