Judge issues huge blow to Trump’s meddling

In March, the Democratic National Committee filed lawsuits against the departments of Justice, Defense, and Homeland Security after the agencies failed to deliver on Freedom of Information Act requests for documents relevant to the potential deployment of federal troops to polling sites — a threat repeatedly floated by President Donald Trump and his loyalists. Now a federal judge has delivered a serious blow to Trump’s election meddling plans by demanding that the agencies fulfill the DNC’s requests.

According to Bloomberg, “Judge Beryl A. Howell directed the agencies to complete searches for responsive records by July 1 and start producing records to the committee at a rate of 500 pages per month for each outstanding request, in a minute order entered on the docket in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.” The judge explained that her decision was motivated by the fact that the requests are “time sensitive” and relevant to matters of “imminent public debate.”

For the government's part, it stalled, arguing that it’s “not yet possible to estimate when final determinations will be made with respect to the relevant requests,” claiming that several agencies haven’t completed their search for documents. But with the midterms looming amid stories of Trump’s intention to deploy federal agents, the judge asserted that these are issues demanding “public debate and discussion right now.”

Over the course of his second term, Trump has repeatedly used ICE, CBP, and other agents to attack and threaten political foes. For example, his agent “surge” in cities like Minneapolis and Washington, DC has prompted many to accuse him of attempting intimidation via what even Trump allies like Joe Rogan have referred to as “Gestapo” tactics.

When asked if he would deploy agents to polling stations — an idea that floated by MAGA figures like Steve Bannon — Trump did little to ease concerns, saying, “I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.” Since then, several of his allies expressed vague support for the plan, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullins, who refused to rule out the idea during his confirmation hearing.

As a result, reports Wired, many state election officials are preparing for confrontations with ICE at polls.

“There have been tabletops and everything else including this type of scenario [of ICE at polling stations],” said Maryland administrator of elections Jared DeMarinis. “We have to prepare now for almost any eventuality that will occur. We even have to include a tabletop exercise of me getting arrested.”