‘I don’t trust these people’: Jake and Spike clash over DOJ’s claim that 405 noncitizens voted in Washington

The Department of Justice says it found 405 noncitizens who are registered to vote in Washington and have voted in the state. KIRO host Jake Skorheim said that’s enough to justify a closer look at who’s on the rolls, and state leaders haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt.

“I don’t think these people are angels. I think they’re very, very interested in maintaining and holding power,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “I’m not saying it’s guaranteed. But I don’t trust these people.”

Co-host Spike O’Neill questioned the DOJ’s motivation.

“It’s preposterous,” Spike responded.

Neil Floyd, the acting U.S. attorney in Seattle, and Pete Serrano, the top federal prosecutor in eastern Washington, said Monday that many of the 405 people are green card holders. That means they’re in the country legally but can’t vote in federal elections. Floyd said the group has cast more than 1,500 ballots and called it “only the tip of the iceberg,” according to CBS News. The prosecutors asked Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to set those ballots aside until each person’s citizenship is confirmed.

On Wednesday, Hobbs responded to prosecutors. His office had confirmed that some of the people on the list are U.S. citizens. He added many others aren’t currently registered to vote, and one of the cases dates back to 1994, according to The Spokesman-Review.

“Without individualized proof of ineligibility, it would be both irresponsible and illegal for election officials to decline to process a registered voter’s ballot,” Hobbs wrote.

The request mirrors a push the Justice Department made in California earlier this month.

Secretary of State responds

Jake played audio of Hobbs telling KOMO that his office had already checked the list.

“A lot of them, or some of them, actually had citizenship. So I don’t know where they’re getting their names from,” Hobbs clarified. “We have won in court every single time. They have not won a single case.”

Spike said that settles whether the number can be trusted.

“Didn’t we just play the secretary of state saying many of those are already proven to be citizens? 405 is not a valid number,” Spike asked. “They keep making these allegations of voter fraud and illegal voters in state after state after state.”

Jake countered that 405 is not an inflated claim.

“That seems like a very reasonable number to say that there are problems and they should investigate further,” Jake said.

‘Is it a few hundred? Is it a few thousand?’

Jake also played audio of Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh, a state representative from Aberdeen, who told The Center Square he believes the real number is much higher.

“They know that there are a substantial number of illegally registered voters voting in Washington, and they don’t want anyone looking into exactly how many,” Walsh wondered. “Is it a few hundred? Is it a few thousand? Is it a few tens of thousands? We don’t know.”

Spike laughed. He called Walsh’s claim preposterous.

Jake read Walsh’s point differently. Washington has refused to give the Justice Department its voter rolls. If federal investigators found 405 problem voters just by checking green card records, there could be more.

“I think it’s possible that people who should not be voting are voting,” Jake said. He added that voters who were registered automatically may not even know they’re breaking the law, and they shouldn’t be left open to felony charges.

Spike said Washington isn’t hiding anything by declining to hand over the rolls. He said the Constitution leaves control of elections to the states, and that question is being settled in court.

The Justice Department sued Washington for its unredacted voter registration list after Hobbs refused to turn it over. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit last month, according to CBS News.

Jake’s distrust

Jake said his distrust comes from how the state’s Democratic leaders have governed. He pointed to the new state income tax, which he and Spike both believe violates the Washington Constitution.

“Now they’re comfortable going against the Constitution,” Jake said. “Is it possible that they’re also willing to do other things to keep power and maintain power?”

“Of course, it’s possible,” Spike said. “I don’t think it’s likely.”

Jake also brought up the 2004 governor’s race. Dino Rossi led after the first count and after a machine recount, but Christine Gregoire won the hand recount by 129 votes.

What changes?

The two did agree on one thing. If the 405 voters are ineligible, their ballots shouldn’t count.

“Keep those 405 out, and the Democrats will win by 300,000 instead of 300,405,” Spike said.

Jake said that kind of thinking is exactly what keeps voters from pushing back.

“They’ve kind of convinced you that no matter what you do, we can just even take your money,” Jake said. He urged listeners to vote yes on Initiative 645, the measure to repeal the state income tax. “Send these people a message. Let them know that they are not above the law.”

Spike said the administration bringing these claims matters to him.

“I can’t take Trump out of it,” Spike said. “He’s the head of the party who’s telling everybody that you can’t trust elections, and now Walsh is promoting the same thing.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3