Former President Donald Trump's months-long smear campaign against the validity of the 2020 election has been debunked by countless election officials, courts, recounts, and audits, but the GOP's election fraud fantasies still persist.
In Maricopa County, Arizona—despite multiple recounts and validations of now-President Joe Biden's victory—partisan officials are continuing with a partisan forensic audit, still searching for any potential validation for their baseless claims of election fraud. The audit is overseen by Cyber Ninjas, a firm with no electoral experience, whose founder posted conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election.
This has led other swing states Trump lost—such as Georgia and Pennsylvania—to weigh their options in following Arizona's lead and pursuing even more audits in hopes of sowing further doubt in American democracy.
Now, the Department of Justice has issued a warning against the potential audits, emphasizing that any ballots or other election data must remain under the supervision of election officials if handed over to private firms.
The document reads:
"Election audits are exceedingly rare. But the Department is concerned that some jurisdictions conducting them may be using, or proposing to use, procedures that risk violating the Civil Rights Act. The duty to retain and preserve election records necessarily requires that elections officials maintain the security and integrity of those records and their attendant chain of custody, so that a complete and uncompromised record of federal elections can be reliably accessed and used in federal law enforcement matters."
It goes on to note the penalties imposed by violations of these rules, such as $1000 fines and up to a year in prison for each violation.
The memo came off as a swipe against the Maricopa County audit, which has been fraught with partisanship and has stoked concerns that Republican officials and firms like Cyber Ninjas are botching the integrity of the audit.
Social media users agreed.
Hello anyone out there in Arizona..https://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1420434056991461382\u00a0\u2026— \u00c7ha\u00f1\u00e7e (@\u00c7ha\u00f1\u00e7e) 1627493043
Mishandling ballots & voting machines can be a violation of Federal Law.\n\nThe AZ foolishness is ballot tampering if not destruction.\n\nVoting machine handling by non-election officials makes them need to be replaced.\n\nThe cost passed to the taxpayers.\n\n#ONEV1 #FreshVoicesRisehttps://twitter.com/politico/status/1420436491973562370\u00a0\u2026— Ms. Lonnie \ud83e\udd8b\ud83d\udc9c\ud83e\udd17 (@Ms. Lonnie \ud83e\udd8b\ud83d\udc9c\ud83e\udd17) 1627493942
Warning shot at Arizonahttps://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1420434056991461382\u00a0\u2026— Anime_Now (@Anime_Now) 1627492875
Others claim a mere warning isn't enough, and that the Justice Department should intervene.
They warned Arizona about 2 months ago. How'd that work out?— Karen R. Ronk (@Karen R. Ronk) 1627493057
A warning will NOT stop them. Prosecute!— Leona Snyder (@Leona Snyder) 1627494181
Gee, does DOJ think that advice will be effective? If so, I have a bridge I\u2019d like to sell them.— geekygenie (@geekygenie) 1627494428
Or else???? A sternly worded letter like in AZ\u2026 Take ACTION @TheJusticeDept— Chucky (@Chucky) 1627493086
It\u2019s time to sue AZ @TheJusticeDept how many recounts and shady dealings must taxpayers pay for - 7 months of this insanity! #SueArizona— Traitorsgonnatrait (@Traitorsgonnatrait) 1627494891
without actual consequences, this is the barest window dressing— Marcantonio Rendino (@Marcantonio Rendino) 1627504063
Given the broad jurisdiction granted to individual states over their election laws, Justice Department intervention could introduce new complications regarding Republican election fraud fantasies.
@RonFilipkowski/X