The Justice Department has formally demanded Wayne County, Michigan, to turn over all ballots from the November 2024 election, marking a significant expansion of federal election investigations. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon cited multiple convictions and lawsuits related to election fraud as grounds for the request, which includes ballots, receipts, and envelopes, giving the county 14 days to comply. Despite Trump’s narrow victory in Michigan overall, Wayne County, home to Detroit and a heavily Democratic area, strongly opposed the move, with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel condemning it as baseless and politically motivated.

The federal effort to scrutinize election records spans 29 states and Washington, D.C., amid ongoing claims of voter fraud by Trump and his allies. The investigations follow last year’s raids on election facilities in Georgia and Arizona, part of broader efforts to challenge and control election processes. Critics argue these actions are attempts to undermine trust in the electoral system, while Trump seeks increased federal oversight through executive mandates. Nessel and other officials emphasize the robustness of Michigan’s election safeguards and condemn the federal inquiries as retaliatory and unfounded.