Homeland Security Investigations will deploy a new
initiative to follow up on leads, conduct interviews, and support potential
prosecutions for election fraud in nine states, according to internal documents
reviewed by CNN.
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is
intensifying its investigations into potential cases of election fraud in nine
states starting Tuesday, a move that comes just weeks before the November
midterm elections.
According to internal federal guidelines reviewed by CNN,
the initiative will be led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a
division of ICE that typically focuses its operations on crimes such as drug
trafficking, human trafficking, and child exploitation.
The new strategy was described in the documents as a
“coordinated criminal election fraud intensification initiative,” which aims to
follow up on investigative leads, conduct on-site interviews, and facilitate timely
review by prosecutors.
Nine States Under Investigation
The operation includes actions in nine states:
Washington
Wisconsin
Missouri
Georgia
California
Pennsylvania
Nevada
New York
Connecticut
According to the guidelines, the investigations will begin
in early September and extend through mid-October.
The decision represents an expansion of HSI's involvement in
election matters. The Trump administration has increased its efforts in recent
months to investigate potential cases of individuals who, without being U.S.
citizens, registered or voted illegally.