Attorney Pelham, representing the Los Angeles County registrar, stated in court that it would be chilling for county workers to know they could be prosecuted if they tabulate illegal ballots.
Posted by VINCE, Checked
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VINCEOct 28, 2026
Source New Mexico reports that Christopher Pelham, lawyer for the LA County registrar, told the federal court at the October 27 hearing that the prospect of federal trouble for processing ballots 'is chilling' for officials, and AP confirms Pelham represented the registrar at that hearing.
What was said
… Matt Finn over at the Fox News Channel was doing a wonderful job summarizing some of the inside of the courtroom drama. Check out this line for a moment and see if you can spot the the immense logical problems with it. Matt Finn writes that Attorney Pelham, who represents the LA County registrar, so Democrat this is a Democrat speaking tells the court it would be chilling for county workers who know about the Justice Department's warning that they could be prosecuted if they tabulate illegal ballots. It would be chilling for county workers who knowingly prosecute illegal ballots. You see what the problem is, Sir Chet? What's wrong with that? Enforcing the law should be chilling to criminals. Enforcing the law should chill your desire to break it. …
VINCE · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Source New Mexico quotes Pelham at the federal court hearing saying the prospect that election officials could face federal 'trouble' for processing ballots 'is chilling for them,' matching the claim's core assertion.[1]
Supports. AP reports that Christopher Pelham was an attorney for the Los Angeles County registrar who argued at the Tuesday hearing on the DOJ's request to bar counting of about 20,000 disputed ballots.[2]
Context. The same hearing included Essayli's statement that election officials would be criminally liable if they knowingly processed a noncitizen's ballot, which is the prosecution warning Pelham's remark responded to.[1]
Context. Judge Carter criticized the administration's suggestions that election workers could be prosecuted and warned that threats to county employees cease immediately.[3]
Sources
3 sources: 2 not rated, 1 tier 2
- 1Trump’s DOJ threatens 'criminal liability' for California officials in vote counting suit • Source New Mexicosourcenm.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 2Judge weighs whether California can count up to 20,000 ballots disputed by US governmentsaratogian.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 3Justice Department subpoenas California election workers in ...politico.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- The Deputy Attorney General of the United States sent a letter to the state of California warning of potential criminal exposure for tabulating ballots identified by the administration as likely from non-citizens.True
- Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan refused to open the thumb drive provided by the DOJ due to security concerns.True
- The California legislature and the governor have imposed criminal liability on individuals who remove ballots from the custody and control of local elections officials.True
- The Trump administration filed a lawsuit asking a court to block Los Angeles County from counting approximately 20,000 ballots until the voters' citizenship status is proven.Mixed
- Los Angeles election officials stated in a federal court that they have no independent way to verify voter citizenship beyond voter attestation.True