Federal Judge Warns Trump Admin's Bid to Set Aside California Ballots Could 'Wreak Havoc'

A federal judge has issued a strong warning against the Trump administration's attempt to set aside approximately 20,000 mail ballots in California, cautioning that such action could "wreak havoc" on the ongoing midterm elections. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected the Justice Department's request, emphasizing that it would disrupt the election process already underway.

Judge Carter stated that the administration's bid would violate long-standing constitutional principles granting states the authority to manage their own elections. He also raised significant concerns about the accuracy and credibility of the Justice Department's methodology used to identify the alleged non-citizen voters on their list.

The ruling by Judge Carter came after the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals had previously dismissed an emergency appeal by the Justice Department, returning the case to the district court. The courts highlighted that the Justice Department's delay in filing the lawsuit contributed to the perceived emergency.