First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli addressed the press in Los Angeles regarding an ongoing terrorism investigation. During this briefing, he also commented on possible charges related to alleged voter fraud in California. He indicated that charges are likely and emphasized the need for a comprehensive audit of California’s voter roll. Essayli has been working with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon towards this goal for a year.
Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the Los Angeles mayoral race, where GOP candidate Spencer Pratt, despite being in second place, did not advance to the runoff. President Trump has called the election ‘rigged’ and criticized California’s voting process. He expressed his frustration on Truth Social, comparing the election procedures unfavorably to those of other countries and alleging vote rigging.
In California, the counting of mail-in ballots, which must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive by June 9, causes delays. This has been a point of contention for some. Essayli announced that his office has ‘multiple election fraud investigations underway,’ but he has not provided specific details. He criticized the state’s election system for its ‘structural vulnerabilities,’ specifically targeting mail-in voting and the absence of a photo ID requirement, claims often echoed by Trump, despite a lack of evidence for widespread fraud.
On a broadcast with Glenn Beck, Essayli accused California officials of allowing noncitizens to vote, which federal law prohibits. He did not present evidence for this claim. These concerns align with ongoing efforts by the Trump administration, which has taken legal action against California to access voter registration data and investigate alleged fraud. Essayli referred to California as a hub for various types of fraud and criticized its election system.
The California Secretary of State’s Office has not commented on these accusations. The Justice Department continues its scrutiny under the Help America Vote Act.