Trump offers million for fraud convictions
The president announced a bounty for reports of election irregularities, with payment tied to criminal verdicts.
By Mei Wong ·
President Donald Trump announced a $1 million reward for individuals who report voter fraud in past or upcoming elections. The payout is contingent on the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the alleged irregularities.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump wrote that anyone reporting fraud in previous elections or the 2026 midterm election would receive the sum. He specified that payment would occur upon the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. The president reiterated the offer to reporters before boarding Air Force One for a campaign rally in Mississippi. He described the payment as a bonus or reward for tips leading to criminal charges.
The White House has not disclosed how it intends to finance the rewards. A spokesperson for the administration did not immediately respond to questions about the funding source. The announcement comes ahead of the November midterm elections and follows Trump’s repeated claims of widespread voter fraud.
Democratic state attorneys general have expanded coordination efforts to counter potential federal interference in the upcoming elections. This move reflects growing concerns over the administration’s voter fraud claims. California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the administration’s efforts to restrict alleged noncitizen voting. He accused the executive branch of politicizing and weaponizing the law.
The $1 million figure dwarfs previous election bounty offers. In 2020, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick offered a $25,000 reward for election fraud tips. Patrick stated he supported Trump’s efforts to identify fraud and ensure every legal vote is counted. He also said every illegal vote should be disqualified.
Following Patrick’s offer, Eric Frank, a Democratic poll worker in Pennsylvania, received the first payout. Frank’s tip led to the conviction of a 72-year-old Republican who voted twice. The man voted once in his own name and once in his son’s name, according to a 2021 report by the Washington Post.
Source: The Guardian
