Democracy & Rule of Law · Report · File No. 261028-361
Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb warns of midterm interference as DOJ sues Alaska, California
Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb has repeatedly warned the president may try to interfere in the midterms. Six days before Election Day, the Justice Department is in court over Alaska's Senate race and California ballots.
Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work
Ty Cobb, a former White House attorney in President Trump's first term, has been warning for months that the administration may try to interfere in the midterm elections. We could not load the original broadcast report of his latest remarks, so this brief relies on his earlier public statements and on current reporting about what the Justice Department (DOJ) is doing now 23.
Cobb, who handled the White House response to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, told PBS NewsHour on July 16 that a Trump address that day on the election system was meant to set up a future emergency declaration around the midterms 2. He also said voter turnout is "the only real guardrail" 2.
In early September, Cobb told MS NOW host Ari Melber that Trump may be sitting on $400 million in campaign money rather than spending it on Republican candidates 3. Cobb tied that to Trump's "intention to interfere with the elections and to steal these elections where possible." 3 These are Cobb's opinions. The reports we read cite no direct evidence of such a plan 3.
What the Justice Department is doing
In Alaska, the DOJ sued to block state officials from certifying the U.S. Senate result if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola by less than the vote for a spoiler candidate with the same name, Dan J. Sullivan. Trump has said the DOJ acted at his direction 1.
From Channel GOPPeltola: Tariffs doubled Alaska air taxi's parts billMary Peltola · 141 plays · captioned, with the source named
In California, the DOJ sued after demanding that election officials set aside the ballots of 20,000 people on an alleged noncitizen list. The department argues a federal criminal law allows that demand 1. It also demanded that Washington state set aside ballots from 400 alleged noncitizens 1.
On Monday, Oct. 26, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined the DOJ's emergency request on California. It voted 2-1 to dismiss the appeal on procedural grounds 1. Judge Mark Bennett, a Trump appointee, wrote that he would also deny the request on the merits 1.
On Tuesday, Judge David Carter held a hearing in the California case and said he would rule Wednesday. An appeal is expected either way 1. In Alaska, Judge Sharon Gleason ordered quick briefing, and state officials asked for a decision by Monday 1.
intention to interfere with the elections and to steal these elections where possible
The responses
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter defended the lawsuits, saying "Enforcing federal law increases the integrity of elections. It increases confidence in elections." 1 Asked whether he would respect the midterm results, Trump said: "I will if they're honest." 1
Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee asked for a fast dismissal of the Alaska case 1. Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown Law professor, called the DOJ actions "preemptive election interference." 1
The Trump administration is afraid and desperate. Their attempts to take over our elections will fail.
That matters because the suits ask courts to change how ballots are handled or certified, not just to enforce existing rules. The pattern is a series of federal demands arriving in the last days before voting, when there is little time to fight them. Courts have so far pushed back: the Supreme Court previously blocked proposed mail-ballot restrictions, and federal courts blocked DOJ demands for state voter rolls 1.
Next, watch for Judge Carter's California ruling and for Judge Gleason's decision in Alaska before Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3 1.
The Record
- Ty Cobb tells PBS NewsHour that Trump's address on the election system is meant to set up an emergency declaration around the midterms 2.
- HuffPost reports Cobb telling MS NOW that Trump intends to interfere with and 'steal these elections where possible' 3.
- A 9th Circuit panel votes 2-1 to dismiss the DOJ's emergency appeal over California ballots 1.
- Judge David Carter is expected to rule in the California case; Judge Sharon Gleason is expediting the Alaska case 1.
Sources
- News From the States via KOTA, “Courts to decide fate of Trump's latest push to control voting as Election Day nears” (2026-10-28). kotatv.com/2026/10/28/courts-decide-fate-trumps-latest-push-
- PBS NewsHour, “Trump setting stage to declare emergency around midterms, former White House attorney says” (2026-07-16). pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-setting-stage-to-declare-emergen
- HuffPost via Yahoo News, “Ex-Trump Lawyer Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump's Plans To 'Steal' Midterm Elections” (2026-09-04). sg.news.yahoo.com/ex-trump-lawyer-sounds-alarm-080333953.htm
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
Courts to rule on Trump's election push as DOJ sues Alaska and California before Nov. 3
The Justice Department has sued Alaska and California and made demands of Washington state, all within days of Election Day. Judges are expected to rule quickly, and the fights could reach the Supreme Court.
Democrats prepare for election interference as DOJ targets Alaska, California, Washington
With a week left before the Nov. 3 midterms, Democrats and their lawyers say the Justice Department's pre-election moves could set up challenges to the vote count. The department says it is only enforcing election law.
DOJ calls a narrow Peltola win in Alaska a 'tainted victory' in suit over namesake
The Justice Department says a close Democratic win in Alaska's Senate race would be 'tainted' by a second candidate named Sullivan. A judge plans to rule by Thursday, days before the Nov. 3 election.
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