Trump says he asked US attorney for California election probe: ‘Do me a favor’

MACUNGIE, PENNSYLVANIA: President Donald Trump on Tuesday, June 23, said he personally contacted a federal prosecutor in California and asked him to examine the state’s gubernatorial primary results as his preferred candidate, Steve Hilton, appeared unlikely to advance.

Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump said the review was the reason Hilton reached the November runoff, though election results continued to change as additional ballots were counted. California’s mail ballot system means final results are often determined days after election day as remaining ballots are processed.

Trump says he asked prosecutor to 'take a look'

Trump said he contacted the top federal prosecutor for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, after expressing concern that Hilton could miss the top-two runoff. “I called up the very powerful and very good US attorney in California, and I said, ‘Do me a favor. Take a look, they are trying to steal that election, too,’” Trump said.

Essayli’s office announced on June 5 that it was reviewing election-related claims involving California. Trump said the review changed the outcome of the race and credited the prosecutor’s involvement with Hilton’s advancement.

“Over the next week, he was definitely going to lose, but the US attorney called, ‘We want to check your votes,’” Trump said. “About an hour after the call, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Hilton has won,’” Trump added, “Had I not made that call, Steve Hilton would right now be watching the election from home.” 

Hilton, a conservative commentator endorsed by Trump, ultimately finished second in California’s primary, securing a place in the general election against Governor Gavin Newsom's endorsed candidate, Xavier Becerra. His advancement came after additional ballots were counted, with early results not determining the outcome.

Hilton has said he has not seen evidence of problems that would require further action. He said his campaign had legal teams monitoring the process, but said he had not found evidence supporting claims of wrongdoing.

“We’ve seen nothing that would give us cause to intervene in that way,” Hilton said. He added that Essayli was “there, and he’s taking a look at it, and I trust that if there is anything that needs to be investigated, that he will make sure it happens.”

Newsom responds after Trump details call with California prosecutor

Trump’s remarks came as he continued to criticise California’s election system and called for passage of the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed election bill. “California’s totally rigged. It’s a disgrace. We gotta pass the SAVE America Act, okay? Gotta pass it,” Trump said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Trump’s comments in a post on X, writing, “Trump just admitted it.

“The President of the United States is personally directing federal prosecutors to start investigations into his political opponents when his preferred candidate may lose the election.”

The California gubernatorial race will now proceed to the November general election, with Hilton facing Becerra after both candidates secured the top two positions in the state’s primary system.