Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz is investigating the conduct of two U.S. Department of Justice officials who monitored poll workers and observed voters in Laramie County during the state's Aug. 18 primary election. The investigation was requested by Republican Gov. Mark Gordon.
Gordon described the monitors' actions as "a bit aggressive" and "irregular" during a meeting to confirm election results. He stated his concerns about federal government interference, comparing it to concerns about federal gun control measures. "I feel very strongly about the federal government coming in and taking our guns. I don’t like that. I don’t like the federal government coming in and taking our votes, either," Gordon said.
Amy Edmonds, a spokesperson for Gordon, confirmed the investigation on Friday. Kautz was appointed by the governor. Gordon, in the final term of his governorship, has not previously expressed significant criticism of federal policies under the Trump administration.
The monitors were present in Laramie County, which includes the state capital, Cheyenne. They arrived shortly after polls opened and informed Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee that they intended to interview voters to assess compliance with federal civil rights and voting rights laws. Lee stated her office denied the monitors permission to conduct interviews within polling places.
According to Lee, the monitors questioned local officials about the details of poll worker training, how new election equipment was acquired, and requested to examine tabulators. Lee indicated that Wyoming law permits only certified poll watchers, who observe registration and turnout, to monitor elections. She characterized the monitors' presence as "a poorly managed exercise and one that showed complete disregard for our state laws and administration of our elections."
Lee also noted that her office was not notified of the monitors' planned presence. A Department of Justice official in Washington informed her that the decision to send monitors was made on short notice and an email sent to her office "may have gone to the wrong address."
While the Justice Department routinely sends monitors to observe elections, their role is not to interfere with voting or election administration. The DOJ did not respond to questions about the monitors but referred to a statement from Darin Smith, the U.S. attorney for Wyoming. Smith said the monitors were in the state "to ensure transparency, ballot security, and strict compliance with federal voting rights statutes." He added, "Voters deserve absolute confidence that their ballots are secure and their voices are heard without interference. We are working alongside local officials to ensure every lawful vote is protected."
Wyoming's attorney general operates primarily in service to the executive branch and is not independent of the governor, unlike in some other states. Edmonds clarified that neither Gordon nor anyone else is asserting that the monitoring influenced the election outcome. She described the action as "a fact-finding mission just to sort of figure out exactly what did happen."
Wyoming's Republican Secretary of State, Chuck Gray, who has amplified claims of fraud in the 2020 election, told Gordon at the election meeting that his office received an email from the Justice Department, which was the extent of their communication regarding the federal officials. Gray stated that Wyoming law allows for election observers and expressed openness to speaking with the attorney general, emphasizing the importance of "transparency and accountability."