Trump threatens jail over 20,000 disputed California ballots
President Donald Trump posted Friday on Truth Social that California officials "will all go to jail for a long period of time!!!" He reposted a DOJ letter on disputed ballots. The Justice Department sued California and Los Angeles County on Thursday. It says about 20,000 "likely non-citizens" appear on LA County voter rolls. Names went out on a password-protected USB drive, hand-delivered with a handwritten password, with 48 hours after Tuesday receipt to cross-check. Trent McCotter told Fox’s Kayleigh McEnany officials would not open the drive over security concerns: "If they just opened the drive, they’d see the evidence." His letter said persons who "knowingly tabulate ballots cast by individuals identified by federal agencies as noncitizens" risk becoming "aiders and abettors to a federal crime." Shirley Weber rejected the demand in writing, citing the National Voter Registration Act’s 90-day limit and unverified claims. Dean Logan said the county cannot withhold ballots on unverified allegations. Gavin Newsom called the suit a desperate attempt to suppress California voters. McCotter said the DOJ has written for months and that other states, including Democrat-run ones, have worked with the department. CONTESTED: The Hill reported the warning covered over 200,000 potential non-citizens; other outlets cite about 20,000 for LA County. In July Trump alleged 250,000 noncitizens across California and three other states; a federal preliminary review matched about 118,000. County officials told Democracy Docket the list, once accessed, included voters statewide. A UCLA Voting Rights Project letter Wednesday threatened a temporary restraining order. Court action remains unresolved.