A report indicates that a senior official within the Department of Justice (DOJ) has allegedly issued an ultimatum to federal prosecutors, demanding they pursue specific election fraud cases or face termination. According to sources familiar with the remarks shared by MS NOW, Aakash Singh, identified as the deputy attorney general’s top lieutenant, communicated this directive during a standing weekly conference call with senior supervisors overseeing criminal prosecutions in U.S. attorneys’ offices.
Allegations of Coercion and Legal Concerns
The alleged edict has triggered alarm among legal experts who argue that such pressure compromises the critical oversight role prosecutors play in determining whether substantial evidence exists to charge a crime. Ryan Crosswell, a former DOJ prosecutor who worked on election crime prosecutions before its dismantling under the Trump administration, described the report as "outrageous." He emphasized that it is the prosecutor’s responsibility, not an external authority's, to decide if facts satisfy criminal elements.
Crosswell, who resigned after a Trump appointee ordered his office to drop a corruption investigation into then-New York Mayor Eric Adams, expressed fear that everyday citizens could become victims of Singh’s alleged order. He stated that the prosecutor’s oath requires them to shut down investigations if evidence is lacking, viewing this independence as essential protection for citizens.
DOJ Response and Context
Emily Covington, a DOJ spokeswoman, denied these claims in statements provided to MS NOW. She asserted that Singh never threatened anyone with firing and clarified that the Department considers election integrity a priority non-partisan issue. "Only those who are allowed to vote should be voting... If you break the law, you will be charged accordingly," Covington stated, a story we covered in DOJ Hires Lawyer With Election Hack History For Monitoring Role.
Despite claims by Donald Trump and others regarding widespread fraud by undocumented immigrants, data suggests otherwise. A ProPublica analysis found that between January 2025 and May 2026, only 41 alleged noncitizens were charged with voting illegally—a small fraction of the more than 150 million people who voted in the 2024 presidential election, as we reported in DOJ Hires Lawyer With Election Hack History For Monitoring Role.
Singh’s Rapid Rise
Aakash Singh, 34, has rapidly ascended within the DOJ to become its de facto No. 3 official. He was promoted this month by Attorney General Todd Blanche to principal associate deputy attorney general. A former line prosecutor in the Eastern District of North Carolina, Singh’s rise coincides with Trump’s second term, according to El Comercio.
DOJ staffers were reportedly shocked by the alleged directive during the call. While MS NOW reported that supervisors claimed higher-ups could overturn a prosecutor's decision not to pursue a case, insiders noted the deputy attorney general’s office would make final decisions on case progression. The DOJ did not respond to an email from the Daily Beast seeking further comment.
