Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the nationwide deployment of District Elections Officers (DEOs) under the Election Threats Task Force, citing a disturbing surge in violent threats against election administrators. This move aims to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and protect public servants who facilitate voting.
Established in 2021 by Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, the task force responded to an unprecedented escalation in threats targeting local election officials and volunteers. Ahead of the November 5 election, the task force is intensifying its efforts, with U.S. attorney’s offices across the country designating their respective DEOs.
In Delaware, Assistant United States Attorney Shamoor Anis has been appointed by U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss to coordinate with the task force. Weiss emphasized, “The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring every citizen can vote freely and without discrimination, and that election staff can serve without fear of unlawful violence, upholding the election process’s integrity at all costs.”
Similarly, in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam has named a team of seasoned professionals, including Criminal Division Chief Bruce D. Brandler and Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Consiglio, Geoffrey MacArthur, and James Buchanan, to serve as DEOs. Karam underscored, “The right to vote is democracy’s bedrock; we must safeguard this right for all eligible citizens and hold accountable those who seek to undermine it.”
These DEOs will assume a dual role, overseeing not only the task force’s efforts within their districts but also managing Election Day complaints related to voting rights and election fraud. According to a Department of Justice statement, “The Department will vigorously address violations wherever they occur, reinforcing public trust in the electoral process through localized points of contact for reporting potential federal election law breaches.”
Since its inception, the task force has successfully prosecuted approximately two dozen individuals for violent threats against election workers, as highlighted by Garland in September. The Attorney General issued a stern warning: “Threatening harm or death to election workers, officials, or volunteers will invariably lead to Justice Department intervention and accountability.”
