The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed lawsuits against an additional four states as part of its efforts to obtain specific voter data. This brings the total number of states sued by the DOJ to 18. The department has also filed a separate lawsuit against Fulton County, Georgia, seeking records from the 2020 election.
DOJ Litigation Against States
The lawsuits target states that former President Trump lost in the 2020 election, with most being led by Democratic administrations. The Justice Department is seeking complete, unredacted copies of voter registration lists, which include driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers for voters.
The DOJ states that it requires this personal information to verify whether states are adhering to federal laws concerning the maintenance of accurate voter rolls. Many states have declined to provide this information, citing privacy restrictions.
The latest states to be sued, as announced by the Justice Department on Friday, are Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that the department aims to ensure states comply with federal election laws to protect election integrity. Dhillon also reported on the number of voter records processed through a citizenship lookup tool operated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Action Against Fulton County, Georgia
In a separate legal action, the Justice Department has sued Georgia's Fulton County. This lawsuit seeks to compel local election officials to release all ballots and other related records from the 2020 election. Fulton County has been a focal point for claims made by former President Trump and his allies regarding the 2020 election outcome.
This DOJ legal action against Fulton County follows the dismissal of an election interference case against Trump and his allies that was originally initiated by county prosecutors.
State Responses and Related Events
Officials in Colorado have expressed opposition to the administration's pursuit of voter data. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold stated that the state would not provide Coloradans' sensitive voting information, asserting that the administration does not possess a legal right to it. She indicated an intent to contest the lawsuit.
In a related development, former President Trump announced on social media that he would pardon Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk. Peters is currently serving a nine-year sentence following a conviction for granting unauthorized access to voting equipment during an effort to investigate the 2020 election. Presidential pardons apply to federal offenses; Peters was convicted on state charges, and the authority to pardon state crimes rests with Colorado's governor.
The Department of Justice also recently announced a review of Colorado's prison system.