California governor warns judges Trump administration may seek to seize midterm ballots

By Seyit Kurt

ISTANBUL (AA) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned federal judges Saturday that the Trump administration could seek search warrants to seize ballots and other election materials before the results of Tuesday's midterm elections are certified.

In a letter to the chief judges of the state’s four federal judicial districts, Newsom said he had "grave concerns" that federal agents could seek warrants for ballots and election materials while the election process is underway.

"I have grave concerns federal agents will seek search warrants to seize ballots and ballot materials before the election results are certified," he wrote.

Newsom stressed that he was not aware of any warrant application currently pending, but urged judges to scrutinize any such requests more closely.

He cited recent Justice Department actions, including warnings of potential legal consequences against state and local election officials who failed to comply with federal demands and grand jury subpoenas issued to election workers.

Newsom argued that California's chain-of-custody and retention laws already ensure that potential evidence involving ballots is preserved, saying there was "no legitimate law enforcement reason" to seize materials and equipment needed to process and count ballots.

"The stakes for democracy and the rule of law are too high to consider any such application without additional scrutiny," he said.

Newsom also sent the judges a UC Berkeley Edley Center on Law & Democracy resource on assessing search warrants for election materials.

He said the guidance could assist federal judges who may consider warrant applications before California's election results are certified by Dec. 11.

Seyit Şamil Kurt