US Democrats accuse Trump administration of election 'intimidation'

WASHINGTON, Oct 22: Democratic Party leaders have sued US President Donald Trump and members of his administration, accusing them of aiming "threats and intimidation" at state and local officials in the run-up to the November 3 midterm election.

Democratic governors, Congressional leaders and other party entities filed suit in federal court on Tuesday against Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Justice Department and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, among others.

Justice and Homeland Security officials have "sought to bolster their interference efforts through a persistent stream of threats and intimidation directed towards state and local election officials across the country," the complaint reads.

Democratic officials railed against the government's request "with just 48 hours' notice" that California refuse to send ballots to more than 20,000 registered voters, citing doubts about their citizenship.

They called the government's list "remarkably slapdash," akin to one issued in Nevada, where officials initially alleged there were 16,000 noncitizens on the voter rolls, only to reduce the number to 185.

Nevada later found all of those people to be citizens, the Democrats argued.�" AFP