Mikie Sherrill knew voter-roll issue before Trump rebuke, DOJ says
A top Justice Department official says New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill already knew a voter-roll disclosure was coming when she joined Democrats in calling President Trump a liar over election integrity claims. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon told Fox News Digital that Sherrill still dismissed Trump's warnings—prompting her rebuke: "Shame on you, governor."
Key Takeaways
- DOJ Civil Rights chief Harmeet Dhillon says Mikie Sherrill knew a New Jersey voter-roll revelation was forthcoming when she co-signed a Democratic governors' rebuke of Trump.
- Trump's July 16 speech and DHS data cited more than 35,000 potential noncitizens on New Jersey rolls; state disclosures describe an MVC error that improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens, with fewer than 400 later casting ballots.
- Dhillon warned states that refuse to cooperate could face lawsuits; Sherrill indicated she would not comply with a DOJ records demand and said her administration is running an independent investigation.
- New Jersey's attorney general has sought Monmouth County paper registration forms from 2022–2024 as GOP leaders argue problems extend beyond the MVC software window.
What did the DOJ official say about Mikie Sherrill?
In comments to Fox News Digital, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon accused Gov. Mikie Sherrill of criticizing President Donald Trump's election integrity claims even though, in Dhillon's view, Sherrill already knew her administration was about to disclose a major voter registration problem.
"When the president came out with his Primetime speech last Thursday, I believe in the sequencing of events that has been laid out, she already knew that this revelation was forthcoming," Dhillon said. "She knew it, and she still went online and called the president a liar and said he was exaggerating -- Shame on you, governor."
After Trump's July 16 address, Sherrill joined 23 other Democratic governors in a statement led by Kentucky Gov. Andrew Beshear that called Trump's claims lies and conspiracy theories and insisted U.S. elections have been proven safe and secure.
What do New Jersey officials say happened with the voter rolls?
Trump alleged that Democrat-run states, including New Jersey, have large numbers of noncitizens registered to vote. Department of Homeland Security data released with the speech found more than 35,000 potential noncitizens on the Garden State's rolls.
Separately, reporting on the state controversy describes a Motor Vehicle Commission software error that improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens between June 2023 and June 2024. Those people had identified themselves as noncitizens during MVC transactions, but their information was still sent for voter registration. Fewer than 400 later cast ballots.
Republican State Chairman Christine Hanlon said the New Jersey GOP's Election Integrity Task Force also found noncitizens who registered using paper applications, including cases outside that one-year window. She argued suspending motor voter alone would not fix verification gaps.
How are investigators and the DOJ pressing the issue now?
Dhillon said governors willing to work with the Justice Department would get help, while states that refuse could be sued. "It's a bipartisan problem, actually," she said, adding the department would still try to fix the issue through litigation if needed.
A DOJ letter gave Sherrill five business days to turn over voter data. Sherrill indicated to WCBS she would not comply, telling reporters her administration is running an independent investigation and arguing the Trump administration wants to "weaponize" the episode rather than focus on free and fair elections. Pennsylvania, New York and other states have also resisted DOJ requests; the department has sued officials in some states, including New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell.
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office has asked Monmouth County election officials for paper voter registration forms from 2022, 2023 and 2024—the first public sign that state law enforcement, not only a private firm, is examining the controversy. Follow more BlasterPost coverage via our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.