US News
Butte County clerk alleges federal agent threatened prosecution over noncitizen voter list
The Guardian reports that Keaton Denlay, a Butte County clerk, says a Justice Department letter demanded ballots of 47 alleged noncitizens be set aside.
The short version
- Butte County clerk-recorder Keaton Denlay says a federal agent hand-delivered a Justice Department demand letter and a list of alleged noncitizen voters.[The Guardian]
- The letter demanded that ballots of 47 people it called likely noncitizens be segregated and warned of aiding-and-abetting risk.[The Guardian]
- Denlay says the list had 46 names with one repeated, and 32 of 45 distinct names were not on active voter rolls.[The Guardian]
- State officials reject the claims as based on unreliable data, while DoJ alleges 20,000 California voters are likely noncitizens.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- Keaton Denlay, Butte County clerk-recorder, said a federal agent hand-delivered a Department of Justice demand letter and a list of names on Friday.[The Guardian]
- The Department of Justice letter claimed the list contained 47 likely noncitizens unlawfully registered to vote and demanded their ballots be segregated.[The Guardian]
- The letter warned that persons knowingly tabulating ballots cast by individuals identified as noncitizens risk becoming aiders and abettors to a federal crime.[The Guardian]
- Denlay stated the list contained 46 names, including one repeated, and that 32 of the 45 distinct names were not on Butte County's active voter rolls.[The Guardian]
- The Department of Justice has reportedly alleged that 20,000 California voters are likely noncitizens and has sued to stop those ballots from being counted.[The Guardian]
- State officials have rejected the Department of Justice claims, saying prosecutors are using unreliable data and risking disenfranchisement of US citizens.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the 47 flagged individuals are ineligible voters is disputed, and Denlay and state officials question the reliability of the list.[The Guardian]
- The reporting does not establish whether any ballots were set aside or whether the Department of Justice will pursue prosecution.[The Guardian]
- The Guardian is the only outlet reporting this event, and the Department of Justice's response to Denlay's account is not included in the reporting.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.