Fbi Invites State Election Officials To An 'unusual' Briefing On The Midterms

Days aft a tense gathering successful Washington, D.C., laid bare increasing acrimony betwixt President Donald Trump's management and authorities predetermination officials, nan FBI invited those aforesaid officials to talk "preparations" for nan midterm elections.

The invitation, which was first reported by Crooked Media and confirmed to NBC News by an predetermination charismatic who received it, is scheduled for Feb. 25. It will see nan FBI, nan departments of Justice and Homeland Security, nan U.S. Postal Inspection Service and nan Election Assistance Commission.

The invitation, which was sent this week, according to nan predetermination official, was signed by Kellie M. Hardiman, who identified herself arsenic an "FBI Election Executive." A LinkedIn page for Hardiman says she was appointed 7 months ago.

The charismatic who was invited and requested anonymity to speak candidly called it “unusual and unexpected,” adding that they planned to attend.

“No 1 has heard of this personification — and we’re each wondering what an 'FBI Election Executive' is,” nan charismatic added.

The Justice Department did not instantly respond to a petition for remark for much specifications connected nan purpose of nan upcoming call. The invitation said it was to "discuss preparations for nan cycle, arsenic good arsenic updates and resources we tin supply to you and your staff."

Last week, astatine a gathering of nan National Association of Secretaries of State, officials pushed back against a Trump management charismatic who said astir supporting predetermination officials’ work.

The Justice Department is suing dozens of states for their elector rotation data. Just past week, the FBI raided a region elections agency successful Fulton County, Georgia, seizing hundreds of boxes of predetermination materials successful relationship pinch nan 2020 election.

Trump continues to falsely declare that he won nan 2020 predetermination and dispersed predetermination conspiracy theories. This week, he suggested he supported nationalizing elections successful astatine slightest immoderate areas.

"The Republicans should say: 'We want to return over. We should return complete nan voting successful astatine slightest — many, 15 places,'" Trump said successful an question and reply connected a blimpish podcast. "The Republicans ought to nationalize nan voting."

The U.S. Constitution gives states nan powerfulness to group nan rules of and administer their ain elections, though Congress tin group immoderate regulations, too.