Over a dozen US House of Representatives Democrats signed a letter, dated Wednesday, requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) address the “insider threats to election systems” that they say are posed by candidates for state and local election posts who believe the 2020 election was stolen. The letter is addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The lawmakers explain in the letter that, since the 2020 presidential election, election officers have faced pressure to overturn the election results from the 2020 election from individuals who believe that the 2020 election was stolen. In addition to the pressure to overturn or cast doubt on the election results, the lawmakers asserted that the election officials have faced harassment, threats, and intimidation. Although these election officials have stood up to the pressure to overturn the election results, the lawmakers are concerned that a new cohort of election officials may abuse their power to influence the results of future elections.

In the letter, they wrote:

Unfortunately, many of the candidates seeking to fill newly vacated state and local election posts support former President Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. We are concerned that this new cohort of election officials may be inclined to abuse their authority to directly influence the results of future elections.

The lawmakers specifically provided that candidates in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona pose a threat to the election systems. Further, the lawmakers asserted that “at least ten candidates running for secretary of state and eight running for state attorney general across the country back false claims that the 2020 election was illegitimate.”

The group of House Democrats specifically asked the DOJ to protect the integrity of election results by addressing threats from within the electoral system. The letter urged the DOJ to work with states to investigate individuals whose illegal conduct poses a threat to the election system. The lawmakers suggested that the DOJ take additional steps as well, which could include deploying nonpartisan election monitors.  

Representatives Deborah Ross of North Carolina, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Terri Sewell of Alabama are co-leaders on the letter. A DOJ spokesperson stated that “the Department has received the letter and will review it.”