Federal Judge Shuts Down DOJ’s “Fishing Expedition” for Voter Data
A federal judge appointed by Trump handed down another defeat against the Justice Department on Friday, overturning the department’s request to obtain personal information about Rhode Island voters.
U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy said the DOJ lacked the authority “to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here.”
“In its September 8, 2025 letter to Secretary Amore (the “Request Letter”), the DOJ stated that the purpose of its request for an unredacted copy of the State of Rhode Island’s voter registration list was “to verify Rhode Island’s compliance with the state’s list-keeping requirements.” [National Voter Registration Act] and the [Help America Vote Act],'” McElroy wrote in his post dismissal of the DOJ lawsuit. “The demand letter did not identify any facts suggesting that Rhode Island has failed to comply with the NVRA and HAVA, nor did it expressly identify a factual basis for the DOJ’s request.”
The Justice Department initially filed the lawsuit as part of its efforts to continue Trump’s immigration crackdown and weaponize voter registration information in lesser-known states. But now Rhode Island has become the fifth state — along with California, Michigan, Massachusetts and Oregon — to reject Trump’s interference.
“Neither NVRA nor HAVA authorizes DOJ to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here,” McElroy concluded. “As such, for the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES the United States’ motion to compel production and GRANTS Defendants’ motions to dismiss. »
That leaves Deputy Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon with zero wins and five losses in his voting records lawsuits, with 25 states still awaiting a decision.
