A U.S. judge has blocked the Trump administration from threatening state or local election officials with prosecution over their processing of election ballots, in a blow to the administration’s efforts to invalidate some votes cast in the midterm elections.
The temporary restraining order issued by Judge Trina Thompson in the Northern District of California late Friday orders the departments of Justice and Homeland Security to stop demanding that election officials halt ballot processing, or set aside ballots, on the basis that they belong to individuals the government alleges are ineligible to vote.
The complaint was brought by unions representing election workers and civil rights groups alleging that “high-ranking” Trump administration officials had engaged in campaigns to intimidate, threaten and coerce state and local officials as part of measures taken ostensibly to block unlawful voting.
Thompson said plaintiffs had demonstrated that the defendants, who include Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, “likely violated” the Voting Rights Act by intimidating and coercing election workers, and also exceeded their authority, as states are responsible for congressional elections.
“One of the hallmarks of a fair election is the freedom to exercise the right to vote free from threat, fear, or intimidation,” Thompson wrote. “Free exercise of the right to vote is a core tenet of our democracy. It requires safeguarding to ensure full participation and public trust in our elections.”
The Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not immediately reply to an overnight request for comment. In a filing Friday, the Justice Department and other defendants said they intend to seek relief or appeal the ruling. Mullin and Blanche have previously said they are working to uncover cases of voter fraud in California and restore trust in U.S. elections.
The complaint from the unions cites letters sent to officials and employees in California threatening prosecution if they process ballots from voters the government alleges are ineligible to vote.
The Trump administration’s efforts to throw the election results into doubt have reached a frenetic new phase in recent days, marked by lawsuits and investigations including in California, Alaska and Washington. Also on Friday, a California appeals court rejected a Justice Department request to set aside disputed ballots in the midterms.
Thompson, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022, issued a temporary injunction blocking the administration from certain actions, citing the court view that plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their action and given that Election Day is imminent. The order expires Nov. 16.
“Election Day is around the corner. Ballots have already been issued. Americans have already begun voting. Workers have already begun processing ballots. Given the consequences of inaction, the Court sees no reason to delay its ruling,” she wrote.
Her order said administration officials must not “threaten, intimidate or coerce state or local elections officials or workers” to demand they halt processing ballots.
She also ordered the Justice Department to inform the court of any pending search warrant applications or demands to access election materials or ballots related to allegations of ineligible voting.
California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom welcomed the ruling in a post on social media late Friday: “WOW! The Trump Administration just lost ANOTHER election related case with a Federal Judge granting a [temporary restraining order] to stop the Trump DOJ from intimidating election workers,” he wrote.
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