The Department of Justice sent a letter to state election officials last week instructing them to hold onto evidence.
Posted by Badlands Media, Checked
- Sources
- 1 support3 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 65%
Badlands MediaSep 16, 2026
An AP report published September 10, 2026, says the DOJ sent letters to 29 states and DC instructing election officials not to destroy 2024 election records, which matches the claim's 'hold onto evidence' instruction within the week before the September 16 post.
What was said
… With all the threats to election officials, the letters that go out from the DOJ making broad claims without any evidence or justification in fact, there was a letter that just went out last week to state election officials saying, hold on to evidence; we're investigating you. How many investigations have come to light? Zero. How many prosecutions? Zero. Election officials are starting to laugh at these letters. I know from it because I've talked to them. …
Badlands Media · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. AP reports the DOJ sent letters to 29 states and the District of Columbia instructing election officials not to destroy records from the 2024 election, a preservation instruction that matches 'hold onto evidence'.[1]
Context. The AP piece is dated September 10, 2026, within the week before the September 16 post, so it fits the claim's 'last week' timing.[1]
Context. Later DOJ preservation letters dated October 29 postdate the September 16 post and do not bear on the claim as posted.[2][3][4]
Context. No source addresses the post's added 'we're investigating you' language, so that detail is unconfirmed; the core instruction to preserve records is supported.[1]
Sources
4 sources: 4 not rated
- 1Justice Department directs states to hold on to 2024 election records ...orlandosentinel.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 2DOJ dangles legal threats over state election officials days ...yahoo.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 3DOJ warns election officials of potential criminal penalties ...votebeat.org · not rated · cited for: context
- 4Trump administration warns elections officials on records retentionjsonline.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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