Feds launch immediate appeal after judge rejects bid to stop California from counting 20K disputed ballots
The Justice Department is immediately appealing a federal judge’s rejection of its emergency bid to stop California from processing more than 20,000 ballots tied to suspected noncitizen voters, escalating a high-stakes election fight just days before Election Day.First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli announced Wednesday evening that the Trump administration had filed a notice of appeal and would seek emergency relief from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals after US District Judge David O.Carter rejected the request.“The district court denied our emergency request to sequester ballots from 20,000 suspected noncitizens.
Every day, more ballots are processed by election officials.This ongoing emergency disenfranchises American citizens through dilution.
The Solicitor General authorized an immediate appeal.We filed our Notice of Appeal and will immediately seek an emergency order from the Ninth Circuit,” Essayli said.Carter, who sits in downtown Los Angeles, ruled against the Justice Department’s effort to sequester the disputed ballots as officials continue processing votes ahead of next week’s election.“Eroded trust in our democracy is irreparable,” Carter wrote in his order.
“Once a vote is segregated, lasting harm has occurred.… This Court declines to be a party to such process.”The ruling marks another setback for the Trump administration, which is accusing California officials of failing to adequately investigate and remove suspected noncitizens from voter rolls.The legal battle has already drawn a sharp split among federal appellate judges.
On Monday, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit rejected the Justice Department’s earlier emergency appeal in a 2-1 decision, ruling that the administration had moved too quickly before the lower court had sufficient time to consider its request.Judges Mark Bennett and Gabriel Sanchez sided against the administration, while Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented, warning that the disputed ballots could...