Unpopular Demand

This Week in Democracy

• Ten secretaries of state wrote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem seeking information about the Trump administration’s demands for state voter registration lists. At least 40 states have received such demands, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The Justice Department has sued eight states for the information.“We are deeply concerned about the inconsistent and misleading information that Secretaries have received from the [Department of Justice] and [Department of Homeland Security] and with the potential lack of compliance with federal law,” the secretaries wrote.➡️ READ: What’s Breaking Through About the Justice Department’s Election Investigations
• At a hearing, a federal judge questioned Justice Department prosecutors about their handling of the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who brought the charges, testified that the full grand jury never reviewed the final indictment—an admission that experts say could imperil the case.The Justice Department later reversed course, writing in a court filing that the full grand jury reviewed the final indictment.States United represented a group of democracy scholars and experts in filing a brief in the case last month, arguing that the politically motivated prosecution of Comey represents a threat to the rule of law and urging the judge to dismiss the case.➡️ EXPLORE: About our brief
• In a post on social media, President Trump wrote that a video posted by Democratic lawmakers in which they said military and intelligence officers had the right to “refuse illegal orders” was “seditious behavior, punishable by death.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later walked back Trump’s comments.“It is beyond dangerous for any public official—let alone a sitting President—to suggest that political violence is ever okay,” said States United CEO Joanna Lydgate. “As someone who was the target of an assassination attempt himself, Donald Trump should know better.”
• A federal judge in D.C. ordered the Trump administration to halt the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, ruling that the deployment “infringed upon the District’s right to govern itself.” The administration is likely to appeal.“From the beginning, we made clear that the U.S. military should not be policing American citizens on American soil,” said D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who brought the case. “Normalizing the use of military troops for domestic law enforcement sets a dangerous precedent.”A county judge in Tennessee also ordered the withdrawal of National Guard troops from Memphis, writing that Gov. Bill Lee did not take all the necessary steps before calling the Guard into service. Lee said he would appeal the ruling.➡️ READ: Background about lawsuits challenging National Guard deployments
• A federal judge in D.C. resumed a contempt inquiry into Trump administration officials after being put on hold for months by an appeals court. The inquiry, launched in April, seeks to determine which officials violated court orders barring the administration from suddenly deporting people to El Salvador.➡️ READ: Sharing the Facts About the Alien Enemies Act

State of the States

In Colorado, Attorney General Phil Weiser said that he would oppose the Trump administration’s request to move Tina Peters, a former county clerk, from state to federal prison. The administration’s request comes as Trump allies have reportedly been pressuring the president to step in and help free her, even though he has no legal authority to do so.

“[Peters] was prosecuted and convicted by a jury of her peers for illegally tampering with our election system and violating her duty,” Weiser said, adding, “Any scheme to prevent her from being held accountable under Colorado law is outrageous.”

Last year, Peters was convicted of participating in a 2021 breach of her county’s election equipment. A jury found her guilty of helping an associate of Mike Lindell—a prominent Election Denier and CEO of MyPillow—access the equipment in an effort to prove the 2020 presidential election was rigged against Trump. (The breached equipment was quickly taken out of service; no election was compromised.) She was sentenced to nine years.

In Maryland, reports indicate that a federal grand jury is investigating whether two Trump administration officials illegally shared sensitive information about ongoing investigations. The officials are involved in the federal investigations into U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of California and New York Attorney General Letitia James, two Trump rivals targeted by the president.

In North Carolina, federal agents deployed in Charlotte and expanded their operations to the Raleigh area, using some of the same brutal tactics seen in other cities.

“They’re driving around Charlotte in unmarked cars wearing paramilitary garb, masks, stopping people on the street randomly based on the color of their skin,” Gov. Josh Stein said. “This is not promoting safety in our communities. The people of North Carolina deserve to be safe.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue working in Charlotte but U.S. Border Patrol ended operations there, according to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security denied McFadden’s claim, instead saying that both agencies would remain.

Federal agents are expected to begin operations in New Orleans on Dec. 1.

➡️ READ: What’s Breaking Through About Federal Law Enforcement Tactics

Welcoming Our Newest Team Member

States United is thrilled to welcome Sarah Courtney to our executive team as our new Senior Vice President of Communications.

With over 20 years of experience in public relations and journalism, Sarah brings extensive expertise leading communications strategies at nonprofit organizations, including nearly a decade of work on elections and democracy at the League of Women Voters. She started her career as a television producer for Fox News and Al Jazeera, where she covered election politics, Congress, and the White House.

We’re excited for the impact she’ll continue to have here as we grow to meet the moment and protect free, fair elections and the rule of law in America.

With Sarah’s leadership, Lizzie Ulmer, who previously spearheaded our communications work, will step into a new role as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships. In this new capacity, Lizzie will deepen relationships with state and national partners, guide our state innovation work, and provide strategic direction towards our mission.

The States United newsletter will be on hiatus next week. We’ll be back Friday, Dec. 5.