The Department of Justice has clarified recent claims circulating on social media regarding the vote count in the Los Angeles mayoral race. These claims suggested a discrepancy where Republican candidate Spencer Pratt allegedly received zero new votes during an election night update.
DOJ’s Response to Social Media Claims
First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli, appointed under President Donald Trump, addressed these claims, stating that an examination of official county records showed that the claims were false. According to Essayli, every candidate received votes in each update provided by the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters.
The claims had been amplified by several conservative figures on social media platforms, including Elon Musk. The controversy arose when a social media post suggested that Pratt, a former reality TV star running against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, received zero votes in a particular update.
Explanation from Election Officials
A spokesperson for The Associated Press, which reports vote counts in real time, explained that a lag in the automated update process caused the temporary appearance of Pratt receiving no new votes. The spokesperson clarified that Pratt’s votes were included in a subsequent update, which occurred approximately one minute later. This update showed Pratt gaining 21,870 votes, while Bass and Raman received 12,850 and 9,521 votes, respectively.
The Los Angeles County clerk’s office has been contacted for further comments on the matter. Meanwhile, CNN has projected that Mayor Bass will advance to the November general election, though it remains uncertain whether she will face Pratt or Raman as the vote count continues.
Context of Election Fraud Allegations
These claims come amid ongoing allegations from the Trump administration regarding election fraud in the United States. Former President Trump has continued to assert, without evidence, that the 2020 election was rigged. Recently, he claimed that the slow pace of the vote count in Tuesday’s primary was indicative of Democratic cheating. In response, the DOJ sent an attorney to observe the ballot processing in Los Angeles.
Essayli also mentioned that there is evidence of election fraud in California and that investigations are underway. California’s election process, known for its thoroughness, allows mail ballots to be received up to seven days after the election, provided they are postmarked by Election Day. This process, while ensuring every vote is counted, often results in delays in reporting final results.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
