A Biden-appointed federal judge has delivered another crushing blow to President Trump’s election integrity efforts.
Story Highlights
- Judge John H. Chun blocks Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in ballot fraud and citizenship verification
- Ruling prevents withholding federal funds from states that refuse election security compliance
- Decision adds to pattern of judicial obstruction from Biden appointees undermining election integrity
- White House vows to appeal and continue fighting for secure elections despite judicial interference
Biden Judge Delivers Predictable Ruling Against Election Security
Judge John H. Chun, appointed by Joe Biden in 2022, issued a 75-page opinion on January 9, 2026, striking down crucial elements of President Trump’s Executive Order 14248. The order, signed in March 2025, sought to restore integrity to federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, mandating Election Day receipt of mail-in ballots, and conditioning federal election funding on state compliance with basic security measures.
Chun’s ruling follows a disturbing pattern of judicial activism, joining federal judges in Washington D.C. and Massachusetts who have systematically dismantled Trump’s election security initiatives. The coordinated opposition from Biden-appointed judges raises serious concerns about the politicization of the federal judiciary and its role in undermining constitutional executive authority to ensure election integrity.
Biden Judge Strikes Down Key Parts of President Trump's Executive Order on Mail-In Ballots – White House Responds https://t.co/gwQPpdEQei #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit
— Marcia Lowe (@Izzie0001) January 12, 2026
Constitutional Crisis Over Election Authority
The judge claimed President Trump lacks constitutional authority to regulate federal elections, citing separation of powers concerns. However, this interpretation ignores the president’s constitutional duty to ensure faithful execution of laws and protect the integrity of federal elections. The ruling effectively grants states unlimited power to implement loose voting procedures, regardless of fraud risks or federal oversight responsibilities.
Washington and Oregon, both heavily reliant on mail-in voting systems with minimal security oversight, challenged Trump’s order in April 2025. These states have built their electoral systems around accepting ballots received after Election Day, creating obvious vulnerabilities for fraud and manipulation that Trump’s order sought to address through common-sense Election Day deadlines.
Watch: https://youtu.be/qvpNKRazKB0?si=qc6vpty6MBZrMXEU
State Officials Celebrate Weakened Election Security
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and Secretary of State Steve Hobbs hailed the ruling as a “huge victory,” revealing their priorities in maintaining loose election procedures over ensuring ballot security. Their celebration of blocked citizenship verification requirements and extended ballot counting windows demonstrates a concerning disregard for fundamental election integrity principles that most Americans support.
The White House, through spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, firmly defended President Trump’s executive order as lawful action to ensure election security. The administration emphasized its commitment to appeal the decision and expects “ultimate victory” in protecting the constitutional right to fair and secure elections against judicial obstruction and state-level resistance to basic security measures.
Sources:
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from enforcing mail-in voting rules executive order
Federal judge blocks Trump Admin. orders aimed at vote-by-mail in Washington, Oregon
Judge bars Trump from withholding election funds to states
