Numerous conservatives on social media lashed out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday after he announced new legislation to safeguard the upcoming midterm elections.
In remarks posted to social media, Newsom issued a stark warning for anyone considering helping President Donald Trump interfere in the state’s elections.
“If you violate California’s laws, if you interfere with our voters, tamper with our ballots or meddle in our election, you will be prosecuted,” Newsom said. “It doesn’t matter who gave the order.”
Newsom said the legislation would make it a felony to seize ballots before the election had been certified by state and local officials.
“We will be the wall he (Trump) cannot get past,” Newsom said. “Because we believe once an election is decided, the winner governs for everyone.”
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The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on Newsom’s announcement.
Earlier this year, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than half a million ballots from the state’s special redistricting election. Bianco claimed he launched the investigation following a complaint from a local citizen group. At the time, Bianco was running for governor as a Republican.
The California Supreme Court later ordered Bianco to halt his election probe.
Many conservative critics said the proposed legislation was a way to stop Republicans from getting elected in California. Others simply regurgitated Trump’s baseless claims of rampant election fraud in the state. And some critics said the legislation indicated California Democrats weren’t confident about their chances of winning in November:
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