استنفار أمريكي لمواجهة مخاطر التدخل في انتخابات الكونغرس

Concerns are growing in the United States about the possibility of President Donald Trump's administration intervening in the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for November 3, with undisclosed moves by a team of current and former national security officials to advise state governments and members of Congress on how to handle any potential attempts to influence the voting process or challenge its results.

Heightened Readiness

The Washington Post reported, citing informed sources, that the team includes about 10 officials with experience in national security and countering authoritarian tendencies, and has held meetings with officials in 10 states, including governors, election officials, and lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties.

The consultations focused on states and electoral districts expected to see close contests that could determine control of Congress. Participants stated that the goal is to enhance readiness for potential scenarios and assist officials in protecting the integrity of the elections, emphasizing that their warnings are based on an analysis of the administration's public statements and actions, not on classified intelligence information.

Concerns About the Deployment of Federal Forces

The scenarios discussed by the team include the possibility of deploying elements from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency or military forces near polling places, as well as potential attempts to access voting records or challenge the results based on claims of fraud.

According to the newspaper, the team aims to urge officials, particularly Republicans, to prepare for any illegal interference and to strengthen electoral protocols in states to close gaps that could be exploited to influence voting.

These concerns come amid Trump's continued questioning of the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, and his administration's pressure to expand the federal role in managing elections, a responsibility that the U.S. Constitution primarily assigns to the states.

The White House Rejects the Accusations

In contrast, the White House dismissed these concerns, asserting that the administration is working to protect elections, pursue electoral crimes, and enhance the security of voting infrastructure.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that ICE does not plan to conduct operations targeting polling sites, clarifying that any potential movement in these locations would be linked to an actual threat to public safety.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Keen, previously confirmed in a letter to Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin that there are no plans to deploy military forces at polling places or seize voting records.

Concerns About Voting Integrity

The warnings coincide with escalating disputes between the federal administration and several states regarding voter records and the limits of governmental powers, as well as attempts to expand restrictions on mail-in voting and redraw electoral districts.

A National Association of Secretaries of State official warned that the possibility of federal government intervention has become a major concern for several local officials, noting that some are prepared to deal with situations where federal employees may demand access to ballots or voting machines.

These concerns gain additional significance as competition intensifies for both the House and Senate, as the results of the elections could determine Congress's ability to oversee Trump's administration for the remainder of his term.

While the administration insists there are no plans to target polling sites, some states are preparing for scenarios that could disrupt the electoral process or provoke legal disputes over the results, reflecting the widening debate over the limits of federal power and the guarantees of the integrity of American elections.