The Justice Department's top prosecutor in Central California said Monday that criminal charges are probable in ongoing investigations into alleged voter fraud in the state, escalating a political battle over election integrity that has drawn in President Trump and Republican lawmakers.
Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, told The Glenn Beck Program that he expects “people will be charged” but stressed the need for a comprehensive audit of California’s voter rolls. “I expect people will be charged,” Essayli said. “But we need a wide-scale audit of the California voter roll, which is what Harmeet and I have been trying to do for the last year.” He was referring to Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division.
Essayli’s comments follow weeks of Republican skepticism about the Los Angeles mayoral race, where GOP candidate Spencer Pratt failed to advance to a runoff despite leading in early returns on June 2. President Trump has repeatedly claimed the contest was “rigged.” On Truth Social Thursday night, Trump wrote: “Watch California, everybody! Our Election process is as bad, or worse, than any Third World Country.”
California allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive up to seven days later, a practice that slows counting but is standard in many states. Trump and allies have seized on the delay as evidence of fraud, though no proof has emerged. California’s slow vote count risks chaos in future contests, critics warn, as the state grapples with its sprawling mail-in system.
On Friday, Essayli announced “multiple election fraud investigations underway” without providing specifics. He accused the state of “serious structural vulnerabilities,” targeting its no-excuse mail voting and lack of photo ID requirements—two practices Trump has long baselessly linked to widespread fraud. Essayli also alleged, without evidence, that California officials allow noncitizens to vote, which is illegal under federal law.
The Trump administration has pressed similar claims despite studies showing noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare. The Justice Department has already sued California for access to its voter rolls under the Help America Vote Act and opened multiple probes. Trump has demanded GOP leaders force a voter ID bill through the Senate, adding to the political pressure.
Essayli did not hold back in his criticism, telling Beck: “California is a fraudster’s paradise, make no mistake about that, whether it’s hospice fraud, health care fraud or election fraud.” The California Secretary of State’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
The investigations come amid a broader GOP push to tighten voting rules. Senator Josh Hawley fumed after four GOP senators blocked a voter ID amendment during budget negotiations, underscoring internal divisions. Meanwhile, California Democrats have defended the state’s voting system as secure and accessible.
With the 2026 midterms looming, the Justice Department’s actions in California are likely to inflame partisan tensions over election integrity. Essayli’s prediction of charges signals that the Trump administration is prepared to pursue cases aggressively, even as critics argue the allegations are overblown.
