Subpoenas land on 2 Los Angeles election workers ordered to court Nov. 4

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office confirmed Thursday that it received grand jury subpoenas last week directing employees to appear in court on Nov. 4. At least two employees at the registrar's office were served with the subpoenas, according to reporting that first appeared in The New York Times. It is unclear whether the staff who received the subpoenas are targets of a criminal investigation.

The subpoenas were issued as the Department of Justice pressed California election officials to set aside ballots from a list of 20,000 names federal officials describe as likely noncitizens. In recent weeks, the department sent letters to local election officials in California warning that they could risk significant federal scrutiny and legal exposure if they refuse to cooperate with those demands. The letters stated that persons who knowingly tabulate ballots cast by individuals identified by federal agencies as noncitizens risk becoming aiders and abettors to a federal crime. A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about the subpoenas.

The subpoenas arrived a day after U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected a Justice Department request to require California election officials to set aside and stop processing ballots of thousands of California voters who appear on the 20,000-name list. Carter found no legal basis for the department's demand and wrote that the court was not convinced the list was reliable. He also raised concerns that the effort would disenfranchise eligible voters and create election chaos. The Justice Department is appealing the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

At a hearing in Carter's courtroom on Tuesday, the judge told Justice Department officials, "This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state and county elected employees cease immediately." Carter repeated the point in an order issued Wednesday evening: "The court reiterates what it said yesterday: these threats must stop."

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said Thursday that Carter's comments were well placed and appreciated. "At every step, the U.S. Department of Justice has taken a confrontational, adversarial approach. Election officials are acting in accordance with state and federal law," Logan said. He added that the office would take whatever steps necessary to ensure employee safety while continuing to serve Los Angeles County voters.

The two employees named in the subpoenas are due in court on Nov. 4.