Trump’s DOJ threatens election officials with 48-hour ultimatum to set aside ballots

President Donald Trump’s Justice Department escalated its election showdown with California on Friday, giving local officials just 48 hours to set aside ballots from suspected noncitizen voters — or face legal action.Federal prosecutors sent demand letters to county election officials across the state, according to a new report from the San Francisco Chronicle, which obtained one of the letters.“BREAKING: In an escalation from the DOJ, prosecutors sent demand letters to individual registrars across California, giving them 48 hours to sequester the ballots of suspected noncitizen voters,” Chronicle politics editor Sarah Libby wrote on X.The letter, sent by U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian to Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Kristin B. Connelly, demanded that officials review the citizenship status of more than 400 voters.Connelly pushed back against the federal pressure.“We aren’t doing anything wrong and are conducting this election in accordance with state and federal election law, as well as the Constitution of...