U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) has requested information from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the vetting process for approximately 1,000 election monitors it plans to deploy in the upcoming fall elections. This request follows reporting from Democracy Docket concerning David Michael Levin, a lawyer who pleaded guilty to hacking government election websites and who appears to have joined the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Krishnamoorthi expressed that the concerns raised in the report have made the need for clarification more urgent. He requested the DOJ to confirm Levin's employment status, his role during the monitoring of Minnesota’s August primary, and whether officials were aware of his criminal history prior to his involvement at a polling location.
Krishnamoorthi stated, "The Department has not publicly explained whether it employs Mr. Levin, in what capacity he may have served, or how he came to participate in a federal election-monitoring operation. Those are not minor administrative questions." The letter is a response to findings from Democracy Docket, which indicated that Levin was seen with senior Voting Section attorney William F. Mohrman during the department’s election monitoring in Minnesota. Levin was charged with three felonies in 2016 for a cyberattack that allowed him unauthorized access to election websites, but the charges were later reduced to misdemeanors. He pleaded guilty, served 20 days in jail, and received two years of probation.
The Congressman raised questions about the standards the DOJ uses to select personnel for election-related work, stating, "Mr. Levin’s record warrants serious scrutiny." He also pointed out that Levin may not be an isolated case, referencing other controversial hires within the Civil Rights Division, including officials who have questioned past election results. Krishnamoorthi asked, "What standards is the Department applying when selecting the personnel who will be responsible for protecting Americans’ voting rights?"
This inquiry comes as the DOJ seeks to expand its role in state-run elections ahead of the 2026 midterms, aiming to obtain unredacted voter registration data and planning a larger presence at polling locations. Krishnamoorthi noted that the planned deployment would be nearly double that of the 2024 monitoring effort. He expressed concerns that the DOJ’s election-monitoring program might risk intimidating voters and pressuring local election officials.
While acknowledging the importance of federal election monitoring, Krishnamoorthi emphasized that it should involve personnel who are "properly vetted, trained, impartial, and committed to protecting every eligible voter’s right to cast a ballot free from intimidation." The letter requests answers to seven sets of questions by September 3, including details about Levin's role at the Civil Rights Division, the vetting process he underwent, and whether his criminal history was known prior to his participation in the Minnesota operation. Additionally, Krishnamoorthi demanded information about the screening criteria the DOJ will apply for its 1,000-person monitoring force, including considerations of criminal histories and prior conduct related to election systems.