Scapegoat

The Republican National Committee has filed a federal lawsuit against New Jersey election officials, including Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell and the secretary of state, seeking data on noncitizens registered to vote. State officials have acknowledged roughly 6,600 noncitizen registrations, though the Trump administration estimates the true figure could be 35,000 or higher. Rep. Tom Kean has filed a separate suit as a New Jersey constituent.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has refused to turn over voter data to federal officials, citing privacy concerns for state residents. A spokesman for Sherrill said Republicans have made similar requests in other states more than twenty times without success in court. The RNC had asked New Jersey to explain by September how noncitizens were added to voter rolls, what removal efforts are underway, and who is responsible for oversight. The dispute comes as both parties intensify efforts around voter roll accuracy and election administration ahead of the 2026 midterms.

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond has referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to the Justice Department for investigation, alleging obstruction related to a federal court hearing. According to reporting, supervisors in Krasner's office scrutinized internal conduct ahead of the June hearing, raising questions about how the office handled matters connected to a case reviewed for a possible miscarriage of justice.

Krasner, a leading figure among progressive prosecutors nationally, was first elected in 2017 with backing from criminal justice reform donors, including George Soros, and has built a reputation for challenging traditional prosecutorial practices. The referral marks a significant legal and political threat to his tenure, arriving as Philadelphia's Democratic establishment, including Mayor Cherelle Parker, navigates its relationship with his office. The outcome of any DOJ inquiry could affect Krasner's standing, his reelection prospects, and the broader progressive prosecutor movement he has come to symbolize nationally.