FBI invites state election officials to an ‘unusual’ briefing on the midterms
Days after a tense meeting in Washington, D.C., laid bare the growing acrimony between President Donald Trump’s administration and state election officials, the FBI invited those same officials to discuss “preparations” for the midterm elections.
The invitation, which was first reported by Crooked Media and confirmed to NBC News by an election official who received it, is scheduled for February 25. It will include the FBI, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Election Assistance Commission.
The invitation, which was sent this week, according to the election official, was signed by Kellie M. Hardiman, who identified herself as an “FBI election director.” A LinkedIn page for Hardiman says she was appointed seven months ago.
The official who was invited and requested anonymity to speak candidly called it “unusual and unexpected,” adding that they planned to attend.
“No one has heard of this person – and we’re all wondering what an ‘FBI election director’ is,” the official added.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment for more details on the purpose of the upcoming appeal. The invitation said it was to “discuss preparations for the cycle, as well as updates and resources we can provide to you and your staff.”
Last week, at a meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State, officials responded to a Trump administration official who had spoken about supporting the work of election officials.
The Justice Department is suing dozens of states over their voter rolls data. Last week, the FBI raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing hundreds of boxes of election materials related to the 2020 election.
Trump continues to falsely claim he won the 2020 election and spread election conspiracy theories. This week he suggested he supports nationalizing elections in at least some regions.
“Republicans should say, ‘We want to take power. We should take control of the vote in at least 15 places,'” Trump said in an interview on a conservative podcast. “Republicans should nationalize the vote.”
The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to set the rules and administer their own elections, although Congress can also establish certain regulations.
