A federal judge issued a temporary order on Friday, prohibiting the administration from threatening election officials with criminal charges concerning ballots linked to individuals suspected of not being citizens.
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson determined that the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security probably contravened the Voting Rights Act's ban on voter intimidation. This assessment stemmed from the federal agencies' threats of prosecution against election personnel for handling ballots from voters the administration alleged were ineligible, occurring mere days before the midterm elections.
One of the hallmarks of a fair election is the freedom to exercise the right to vote free from threat, fear, or intimidation.
In her eight-page directive, Judge Thompson, appointed by President Biden, emphasized,
