Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sparked outrage Monday after acknowledging that the Trump administration’s voter fraud crackdown could mistakenly sweep up American citizens.
McCotter, the DOJ’s second in command, made the startling admission in a news conference discussing the department’s efforts to identify suspected illegal voters ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
“There may be some names on there who, it turns out, ultimately are citizens,” McCotter said. “We’re not perfect.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office quickly seized on the remarks.
“WOW. Trump’s #2 at DOJ just admitted this,” the office wrote Monday on social media.
The backlash didn’t stop there.
“We’re not perfect, but we have no problem disenfranchising US citizens from voting,” wrote health care technology executive John Wilson. “Nah.”
CNN legal expert Ryan Goodman, a professor at New York University, added in his own X post: "This DOJ admission comes with Oct 16 DOJ letter admitting they're using extraordinarily low standard to claim someone is noncitizen registered to vote," which he equated to a "House of cards."
Adam Cochran, a professor and policy consultant, warned that the administration’s efforts could extend beyond California.
"If this BS is what they are willing to attempt in California, where they have no chance at winning…Imagine what they will try elsewhere,” he wrote.
“There you have it. Voter suppression,” another political commentator posted on X.
The White House defended the crackdown, declaring on social media: “Foreign nationals and criminals attempting to commit voter fraud will be caught and prosecuted.”
The Trump Admin completely upends their “widespread voter fraud” claims by admitting they have only charged 113 people across 20 states https://t.co/VRTek6qfc7
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 19, 2026