Alex Padilla: “The law doesn’t apply to us, and we don’t answer to you.”

This incident is a stark reminder of the very real danger facing those who serve the public and who help administer our elections in the face of increasingly hostile political rhetoric.

The truth is simple: our elections are safe and secure; the widespread voter fraud that Trump has claimed for 10 years does not exist.

This lawsuit has no legal basis or evidence behind it and is nothing more than a blatant abuse of power designed to sow distrust in our elections and threaten Americans’ right to vote.

The 2026 midterm elections have begun. We urge you to immediately reaffirm that the Department will forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections.