CalMatters and Shasta Scout Sue Shasta County to Release the Federal Grand Jury Subpoena Over Its Ballots

Attorneys for the First Amendment Coalition filed suit Friday in Shasta County Superior Court on behalf of CalMatters and Shasta Scout, CalMatters reported, challenging the county’s refusal to comply with a public records request to release a federal subpoena over its ballots. The county rejected the request, saying the subpoena is “shielded from disclosure” under federal law. The suit argues that federal law “does not prevent the County … from disclosing the subpoena,” and that the public needs to know whether the probe is meant to “sow unwarranted doubts about elections.” The county said: “The County does not comment on current or pending litigation.”

The subpoena traces to Shasta County Registrar Clint Curtis, who after the June election drew the Trump administration’s attention by claiming ballots looked, felt and smelled funny, and who was defeated for reelection. In September he told several media organizations he received a federal grand jury subpoena related to the ballots. The lawsuit notes that eight other counties, including Fresno, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino, disclosed copies of federal grand jury subpoenas issued to their election officials; CalMatters reports those subpoenas are related to a wider effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to find evidence of noncitizens illegally voting. It is one rung on the election-records ladder in 2026-10-14–dnc-joint-status-report-says-mccotter-letter-plausible-threat-warrant-based-ballot-seizure-criminal-division-no-records.