Bonta sues DOJ over 48-hour deadline to verify 20,000 California ballots

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Justice on Saturday. The legal action challenges a federal demand that state election officials verify approximately 20,000 ballots within 48 hours. Bonta accused the administration of using the legal system to target political opponents as the midterm elections near.

Bonta spoke to MS Now, where he described the department's actions as improper. "It is once again the United States Department of Justice politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies, and it is completely improper," he said. He stated that the department is acting at the direction of President Donald Trump.

The conflict began when federal prosecutors sent letters to county election officials on Friday. They requested information to allow the Department of Homeland Security to verify the citizenship status of voters on a specific list. The state had roughly two weeks to complete the process before the general election.

State election officials argue the timeline is too short to prevent eligible citizens from losing their votes. Los Angeles County officials reported this week that a high percentage of the individuals on the federal list were born in the United States. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the effort on social media, noting that counties received lists of people who never voted or voters from the wrong county.

Newsom called the process an "Absolute clown show!" aimed at inventing widespread voter fraud. Rep. Pete Aguilar, who represents south-west San Bernardino County, wrote that voter intimidation has no place in American democracy. Some state officials initially took no action on the letters, citing the proximity to the election date, which triggered the current legal dispute.

The Justice Department maintains that the request is necessary to secure the vote. A department statement said it is asking counties to provide information so the department can ensure the most secure election in California history. The move fits a wider Republican effort to address alleged voter fraud by undocumented immigrants. The department recently charged 28 lawful permanent residents with fraudulently registering to vote.

Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney, said the arrests prove that California is mailing ballots to noncitizens who refuse to comply with federal law. Bonta questioned the evidence provided to the state, noting that officials received only names without an explanation of ineligibility. "If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they've provided none," Bonta said at a press conference. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday.