U.S. Justice Department defends California election fraud probes amid homeless‑voter controversy

The U.S. Justice Department asserted its statutory authority to investigate election fraud in California, launching multiple probes and coordinating with the FBI on voter‑roll issues. spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre said the investigations “are in line with this authority and will continue despite the state’s unwillingness to comply.” The focus includes the recent Los Angeles mayoral race, where initial results showed Republican Spencer Pratt leading before Democrats Karen Bass and Nithya Raman ultimately advanced.

Separately, a report highlighted that nearly 1,200 people were registered to vote at a homeless shelter with 132 beds and another 185 at a drop‑in center, with total records indicating about 7,600 voters tied to homeless shelters and service providers. Critics allege these registrations could be part of a ballot‑harvesting scheme benefiting left‑leaning candidates, though officials have not confirmed wrongdoing.