Source: Fox News Digital
Summary
A Honduran national was charged with two felony counts related to fraudulent voter registration and false claim of U.S. citizenship, according to a U.S. Attorney in California. The case was highlighted by the Trump administration as part of a broader election fraud crackdown. The DOJ criticized California’s voter-registration safeguards and renewed calls for a voter roll audit. The accused, Darwin Jonathan Rivera-Flores, was not a U.S. citizen and had previously been charged with a misdemeanor related to immigration law enforcement. The White House claimed the case proves media and political critics are wrong about the non-existence of voter fraud.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
First arrest in a fraud crackdown announced in Los Angeles.
White House seizes on case to attack critics.
Charged non-citizen did not vote, but was accused of fraud.
Text messages show taunts toward law enforcement, not just voters.
Author: Evan Null
First Arrest in Election Fraud Crackdown
The first arrest in what a Trump administration prosecutor says will be a broader election fraud crackdown was announced in Los Angeles. The case was used by the White House to counter critics and highlight concerns about non-citizens voting. The accused, a Honduran national, was charged with fraudulent voter registration and false claim of U.S. citizenship. He was not a U.S. citizen and had previously been charged with a misdemeanor related to immigration law enforcement.
White House Seizes on Case
The White House used the case to argue that media and political critics are wrong about the non-existence of voter fraud. A White House spokeswoman said that evidence of non-citizens registering to vote continues to pile up. The DOJ criticized California’s voter-registration safeguards and renewed calls for a voter roll audit. The case was presented as a sign that the administration is taking election fraud seriously.
Charged Non-Citizen Did Not Vote
The accused, Darwin Jonathan Rivera-Flores, was not a U.S. citizen and had previously been charged with a misdemeanor related to immigration law enforcement. He was accused of fraudulent voter registration and false claim of U.S. citizenship. Despite the charges, he did not vote in an election, according to the DOJ. The case was presented as part of a broader effort to crack down on election fraud.
Text Messages Show Taunts Toward Law Enforcement
Rivera-Flores allegedly sent taunting text messages to a Homeland Security Investigations agent, calling the officer “not the good guy” and expressing hope that the agent would not have qualified immunity. The messages included profane jabs and threats. The agent had unblocked Rivera-Flores’ number on his government-issued phone to contact him during an investigation, according to the affidavit.
California Voters to Decide on New Requirements
Californians will decide in November whether to impose additional voter-ID and citizenship-verification requirements. The initiative is being led by state Sen. Tony Strickland and Assemblyman Carl DeMaio. Under current law, people registering to vote must state under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens and provide identifying information. The case highlights ongoing debates about voter fraud and election integrity.
