FBI agents fear Trump team will order them to seize voting machines: report
‘It is going to take people of high moral character to hold the line between doing what they’re told and doing what is right and lawful,’ one former official said
Ahead of next week’s midterm elections, some FBI agents are concerned that they may be instructed to investigate flimsy claims of fraud — using legally dubious measures, according to a new report.
Specifically, agents fear that they might be ordered to seize ballots or voting machines, multiple current and former bureau officials told MS NOW. To prepare for those orders, advocates of fair elections are gearing up to offer FBI agents legal and ethical advice.
While armed agents are prohibited by law from entering polling places, some officials worry that the Department of Justice could attempt to obtain warrants that permit them to obtain voting materials. Such concerns were raised after a series of Trump administration actions, including when the FBI seized ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, earlier this year. The seizure did not result in criminal charges.
“I’m worried about that situation for sure,” one current unnamed official told the outlet. “We have all the evidence we need to expect at least one U.S. attorney and one FBI agent to be willing to sign on to such actions, such as Georgia and Arizona.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Democrats will attempt to cheat in the November midterm elections. One way, he claims, is by having illegal immigrants to cast ballots. In October, the Justice Department requested that California election officials remove about 20,000 names from the state’s voter rolls, claiming they are non-citizens. In a court filing, the state said it found many voters on the list who appeared to be born in the U.S.
The Independent has contacted the FBI for comment.
One fear among some officials is that, by confiscating state election materials, agents could break the chain of custody or render vote tallies questionable.
In July, a pair of bureau analysts based in Atlanta were fired after they refused to take part in the Trump administration’s probe into the 2020 election — which triggered the ballot seizures in Fulton County, MS NOW previously reported.
“I and others are worried that the FBI will be the administration’s arm into seizing voting machines or issuing warrants on questionable probable cause,” Rob D’Amico, a former FBI agent and current MS NOW contributor, told the outlet.
“The Fulton County, Georgia, search warrant demonstrated how people who questioned such moves will be removed, and so many have already,” he added. “It is going to take people of high moral character to hold the line between doing what they’re told and doing what is right and lawful.”
Trump administration officials have done little to ease concerns.
Last week, Blanche left open the possibility that the Justice Department might try to block states from certifying votes in the midterm elections, though he said he had no designs on “improperly” interfering.
In a weekend appearance on CNN, Blanche dismissed fears that Trump might seek to overturn the results of the midterm elections as “crazy.” According to a recent Ipsos survey, a majority of Americans do not believe Trump will respect the election results if Republicans suffer losses.
When asked last month whether it would be illegal for FBI agents to be deployed to polling places, FBI Director Kash Patel responded, “I don’t know that we can’t legally do it.”
With just days to go until Election Day, some state officials have sought to assuage concerns.
“No eligible New Yorker should stay home on Election Day because of fear,” New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote in a letter this week. “I want New York voters to know the law is on their side. Armed federal agents are not allowed at polling places, and no one can use a badge, a weapon, or a threat to stop you from voting.”
“Voting in New York is safe, and my office will make sure every eligible voter can cast their ballot and be heard,” she added.