Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 8
U.S. Attorney Probes California Election Fraud as Vote Count Stretches Nearly 1 Week
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 8

U.S. Attorney Probes California Election Fraud as Vote Count Stretches Nearly 1 Week

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 8

Summary

  • Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said his office is investigating election fraud in California after President Trump alleged the state's races were "rigged."
  • Nearly a week after Election Day, California was still counting ballots — a slow process driven by heavy mail voting and checks on signatures, envelopes and ballot integrity.
  • Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, a Republican reality-TV star, never led the runoff count; he fell from second to third as later mail ballots, expected to favor Democrats, were added.
  • In the governor's race, Xavier Becerra has already secured a November spot, while Democrat Tom Steyer was gaining on Republican Steve Hilton, whose slipping share Trump also cited.
  • The episode revives Trump's long-running pattern of challenging election results that turn against his preferred candidates, this time centered on California's extended count.

Insights

What does a federal investigation into California's process signal for the future of state-run election administration?
Can California speed up its vote count while maintaining its strict standards for ballot verification and accuracy?