Blanche won’t rule out DOJ post-election action in a ‘doomsday’ scenario

NBC News and The Independent report that Attorney General Todd Blanche declined on Thursday to promise the Justice Department would never act to stop states from certifying midterm results. Asked by reporters, he allowed for some hypothetical "doomsday" scenario, said predicting the future would be improper, and insisted the department never intends to interfere improperly with elections. He added that he is not organizing his schedule around blocking a certification. NBC News notes that he spoke before boarding a plane in Norfolk, Virginia, and later told a press conference the aim is making sure only eligible people vote. Senator Chuck Schumer responded that Senate Democrats have prepared for months.

Both outlets say the department is considering more election suits against states after suing California over 18,000 registered voters. The Independent adds that the department has lost over two dozen cases on voter data access, and that the Supreme Court rejected the president's mail-voting overhaul. It also quotes David Becker of the Center for Election and Innovation Research, who says the department has no certification authority and is acting performatively. Separately, the outlet says Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguin restricted Homeland Security field operations in nine states.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News and The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News → Also at The Independent →