House Speaker Mike Johnson has sharply criticized Democrats regarding election security following charges against several non-U.S. citizens for allegedly voting illegally in Michigan. Johnson asserted that such incidents nationwide represent a significant and escalating risk to the integrity of American elections.
Concerns Over Election Security
Speaking out on Thursday, Speaker Johnson highlighted recent events, stating, “From New Jersey to Michigan, the evidence continues to mount: Illegal aliens are registering and VOTING in American elections.” He further contended that Democrats are aware of this issue, which he believes explains their support for “OPEN BORDERS” and opposition to voter identification requirements. Johnson characterized the situation as a “clear and present danger to the integrity of our elections — and our Republic,” emphasizing that “All Americans DESERVE secure elections, and Republicans are the ones fighting to make it happen.”
These remarks coincided with an announcement by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel detailing election crime charges against five individuals who are not U.S. citizens, accused of voting in the 2024 presidential election. An additional U.S. citizen faces charges for allegedly registering her non-citizen husband to vote.
Michigan Attorney General’s Investigation
The charges stem from a comprehensive review conducted by the state into 38 suspected instances of non-citizen voting or related activities occurring between 2009 and 2025. Out of these cases, six have led to criminal charges, 10 have been closed without charges being filed, and 22 are currently under active investigation.
Attorney General Nessel affirmed her office’s commitment to addressing election crimes. “In my office, we’ve always taken election crimes seriously, and prosecute attacks on our voting systems to the fullest extent of the law,” Nessel stated. “We’re upholding election integrity by investigating all claims of non-citizen voters, as rare as they are, and holding bad actors accountable when they refuse to abide by the laws that keep our elections safe and secure.”
It is important to note that in the November 2024 general election, over 5.7 million ballots were cast in Michigan. State officials have consistently maintained that illegal voting by noncitizens is an exceptionally rare occurrence.
Background of Federal Efforts
The recent charges emerge amid a broader push by the Trump administration to prioritize the prevention of illegal voting. During his tenure, President Trump signed executive orders aimed at enhancing citizenship verification for federal elections and facilitating greater access to citizenship and immigration data for states. His administration also advocated for legislation mandating proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
Individuals Charged in Michigan
The Michigan Attorney General’s office detailed the specific charges against several individuals:
- Robert Piva, 67, a permanent resident from Roseville, faces charges including election law perjury (a five-year felony), attempting to vote unqualified (a four-year felony), and fraudulent registration (a 90-day misdemeanor). He allegedly voted early in October 2024 and reportedly claimed his vote was an “experiment” to test voter fraud measures.
- Michael Akioya, 39, a permanent resident from Oak Park, is charged with two 90-day misdemeanors for allegedly making false statements on an absentee voter application and ballot envelope during the 2024 election.
- Alondra Harker, 26, a limited-term alien resident from Three Rivers, faces a misdemeanor charge of fraudulent registration, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, for allegedly registering and voting in person in 2024.
- Harumi Michael, 60, a permanent resident living in Wolverine Lake, is accused of registering and voting in Commerce Township. The charges include three felonies—two counts of election forgery and one count of attempting to vote unqualified—along with a misdemeanor.
- Basanth Sadasivian, 29, a non-citizen residing in the United Kingdom, is charged with felony attempting to vote unqualified, which carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. He allegedly registered and voted in 2024 using the Federal Post Card Application system with a Bloomfield Hills address.
- Kimberley DiDonato, 60, a U.S. citizen from Rose Township, is charged with election forgery (a five-year felony) and computer crime (a seven-year felony). Authorities allege she posed as her non-citizen husband to register him online, reportedly stating she wanted to test system vulnerabilities before requesting the registration be canceled.
Cases Closed Without Charges
Nessel’s office also provided details on cases that were not pursued. Four individuals were referred but ultimately not charged. Reasons included two being confirmed U.S. citizens, one being an American citizen through international adoption, and another being a federally recognized American Indian born in Canada. Six additional cases were closed due to insufficient evidence of criminal intent or potential errors in registration processes.
Challenges in Investigations
Attorney General Nessel highlighted that delays in cooperation from federal agencies impacted the state’s investigation timeline. “While the question of whether any given resident is a citizen may feel simple, some cases are nuanced in unexpected ways,” Nessel explained. She added, “The federal government has not always provided easy or open access to certain necessary citizenship records, and so our investigators had to spend considerable time and effort coaxing cooperation from the federal agencies.” This underscores the complexities involved in verifying voter eligibility and ensuring election integrity.
