ELECTION ALERT 🚨
The Justice Department has approved the use of armed agents to investigate potential voter fraud at ballot counting centers, skirting the long-standing ban on the use of armed federal officers at polling stations.
Justice Department officials told United States attorneys nationwide in a memo that the prohibition only applies to Election Day, not the days after.
The statute “does not prevent armed federal law enforcement persons from responding to, investigate or even prevent federal crimes at closed polling places or other locations where votes are being counted,” Richard P. Donoghue wrote in an email sent around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The New York Times first reported the email on Thursday.
Mr. Donoghue did not say if Justice Department approval was needed for the deployment of agents but suggested that it should be aware if any action is taken.
“Should the need to send federal law enforcement officers to such locations arise, please make immediate notifications to the department,” he wrote.
President Trump has vowed for months to use federal officers to combat what he says is widespread voter fraud.
The Justice Department has approved the use of armed agents to investigate potential voter fraud at ballot counting centers, skirting the long-standing ban on the use of armed federal officers at polling stations.
Justice Department officials told United States attorneys nationwide in a memo that the prohibition only applies to Election Day, not the days after.
The statute “does not prevent armed federal law enforcement persons from responding to, investigate or even prevent federal crimes at closed polling places or other locations where votes are being counted,” Richard P. Donoghue wrote in an email sent around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The New York Times first reported the email on Thursday.
Mr. Donoghue did not say if Justice Department approval was needed for the deployment of agents but suggested that it should be aware if any action is taken.
“Should the need to send federal law enforcement officers to such locations arise, please make immediate notifications to the department,” he wrote.
President Trump has vowed for months to use federal officers to combat what he says is widespread voter fraud.
