President Donald Trump recently disclosed a collection of documents during a national address, which allies suggested would verify his claims of extensive voter fraud. Speaking from the White House, Trump alleged evidence of Chinese interference against his failed 2020 candidacy and a cover-up by the ‘deep state.’ He stated, ‘Americans were blatantly lied to about the security of our election infrastructure.’
However, The Associated Press’s examination found no such evidence in the newly declassified reports, investigation files, and intelligence analyses. Many documents were heavily redacted, obscuring their conclusions. Others revealed already known vulnerabilities without new insights. There’s no proof of Chinese or other foreign manipulation of the vote in 2020 or other years.
David Becker, from the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said the expectation of significant revelations fell flat. ‘There was absolutely nothing here that was news,’ he noted after a briefing on the material. Here’s an analysis of the document claims.
China’s Data Collection
Trump claimed the People’s Republic of China executed a massive data compromise in 2020, acquiring 220 million U.S. voter files. Yet, no evidence indicates China used this data improperly. While China collects extensive information on Americans, it wasn’t for manipulating votes. Public voter files are available for purchase by campaigns, so such data isn’t rare.
The released documents don’t contradict the assessment that China aimed to influence the 2020 campaign, though a minority within intelligence circles believed China tried to undermine Trump. China dismissed the allegations as ‘groundless.’
Noncitizen Voter Registrations
Trump highlighted a Department of Homeland Security investigation claiming 278,000 noncitizens were registered in federal elections, particularly in states like California and Pennsylvania. However, the report didn’t allege any voting by these noncitizens. The unreliability of the data is noted, with errors often misidentifying naturalized citizens as noncitizens. Moreover, noncitizens are permitted to vote in some local elections.
Russia’s Election Meddling
While Trump disputed claims of Russian interference in 2016, documents indicate Russia continued efforts in 2020, targeting Joe Biden and amplifying allegations against him. The records affirm China and Iran wanted Trump to lose, but only Russia has been shown to engage in election targeting. Russia denies such interference.
Michigan Voting Concerns
Documents also detail a Michigan incident where suspicious voter registrations were reported to authorities. Although initially dismissed for further investigation, Michigan Republicans criticized the lack of charges. The investigation concluded with no criminal findings.
Election System Vulnerabilities
Trump highlighted vulnerabilities within election systems, chiefly from Russia. These vulnerabilities prompted calls for enhanced security measures, such as physical security and post-election audits. However, the administration’s support for these measures remains unclear, with Trump reducing funding for key election security agencies and personnel. Concerns about large voter information databases were also addressed, emphasizing the risk of foreign exploitation.
Trump’s advocacy for the SAVE system, a federal database, has drawn criticism for its legality and potential risks. This adds to the complexity of ensuring election security.