Federal officers were seen in Los Angeles’ Skid Row as investigators examined allegations that homeless residents were paid to register to vote, sign election forms and cast ballots tied to recent California races.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal investigators were in downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row on Thursday as authorities pursued a criminal investigation into alleged voter fraud involving homeless residents and recent California elections.
Roughly 20 federal officers, including FBI agents and Homeland Security Investigations personnel, were seen in the area as part of the probe, according to the New York Post. The investigation centers on allegations that homeless residents were paid to sign multiple voter registration forms, forge signatures and complete election-related paperwork before Los Angeles’ mayoral contest and California’s recent primary elections.
The Department of Justice confirmed that federal agents were investigating a criminal matter but declined to provide additional details. The FBI also declined to comment on an ongoing investigation, though the Post reported that its own investigation determined the activity was connected to voter fraud allegations.
The federal activity followed the release of videos showing Skid Row residents claiming they were paid to vote for incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Nithya Raman. The Post previously reported on Bass’ reaction after Raman surpassed Spencer Pratt in the mayoral race and later reported that thousands of homeless voters had been registered at shelters without beds, including one linked to Raman.
In one video cited by the Post, a man said he received $4 to vote for Bass. When asked whether he also would have been paid to vote for Raman, he said “yes” and said Pratt was not among the candidates he had been encouraged to support.
“They gave you an optional choice,” said the voter, Kevin Shepherd, who alleged he had initially been offered $2 but negotiated a higher payment.
Shepherd also claimed he completed a mail-in ballot for Bass and placed it in a ballot box.
FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the issue in an X post, warning that election crimes would be pursued.
“Securing our elections is of the upmost priority for this FBI! If you mess with our elections we will find you!” Patel wrote.
The investigation follows a separate federal case involving a longtime California petition circulator who admitted paying homeless people on Skid Row to register to vote.
According to the Department of Justice, 64-year-old Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong was charged with one felony count of paying another person to register to vote. Prosecutors alleged that some registrants were instructed to use an address connected to Armstrong, raising questions about where election materials could later be sent.
That case followed an undercover investigation by the O’Keefe Media Group, which released hidden-camera footage purporting to show operatives paying homeless people on Skid Row with cash, cigarettes and drugs to register to vote and forge signatures on ballot petitions.
The footage also showed O’Keefe’s team being assaulted while documenting the alleged scheme.
The latest federal activity indicates investigators are continuing to examine whether vulnerable residents in Skid Row were improperly paid or induced to participate in voter registration, ballot activity or signature-gathering operations.
No additional charges in Thursday’s investigation were announced based on the information provided, and federal officials have not publicly identified all subjects of the ongoing probe.
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