The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched several election fraud investigations in California, following President Donald Trump‘s allegations of voter fraud in the state’s recent primary elections. Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, announced the probes on Friday, stating that his office is working in coordination with the FBI to follow the evidence wherever it leads.
Trump, who has repeatedly criticized California’s mail-in voting system, claimed without evidence that Democrats were attempting to steal the election. The investigations come as vote counting continues in several high-profile races, including the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral primaries.
Federal Probes and Public Observation
The DOJ’s announcement follows a visit by a federal prosecutor to the ballot processing center in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County registrar’s office confirmed that a government attorney observed ballot processing activities, noting that the process is open to public observation. Election officials routinely host observers from various interests, including politicians and advocacy groups.
Essayli’s statement on X highlighted the DOJ’s commitment to prosecuting any violations of federal election law to the fullest extent. He also criticized California’s mail voting system, a frequent target of Trump’s false claims of election fraud. The FBI has not yet responded to requests for comment on the ongoing investigations.
Trump’s Allegations and California’s Voting Process
Trump’s claims of fraud come as California’s vote-by-mail system continues to process ballots. Under state law, ballots postmarked on or before election day and received within seven days after the election are eligible to be counted. This process often favors Democratic candidates in the blue-leaning state.
In the 2026 elections, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was not announced as the winner until eight days after election day. This year, the top two candidates in the primary race will advance to the general election in November, regardless of their party affiliation. As of Friday evening, NBC News projected that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra will advance to the general election, with Republican candidate Steve Hilton and Democratic candidate Tom Steyer competing for the second spot.
Governor Gavin Newsom has strongly defended the integrity of California’s election process, calling Trump’s allegations baseless. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber emphasized that state law grants county officials up to 30 days to complete the official canvas to ensure accuracy. “Accuracy comes before speed,” Weber stated.
As the investigations continue, the political battle over the pace of vote counting intensifies. California voters can track the status of ballot counting and review official security guidelines on the Secretary of State’s official FAQ portal. The final results of the primary election are scheduled to be certified on July 10.
