An Iraqi man residing in upstate New York has been accused of illegally voting in the 2020 election, as per U.S. prosecutors who revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk, aided in the investigation.
Akeel Abdul Jamiel, aged 45, was living in South Glens Falls, approximately 50 miles north of Albany, when he cast his vote in Saratoga County despite being aware that he was not a U.S. citizen, according to a charging document dated April 25.
The charge brought against him is for voting by aliens, a misdemeanor that could result in up to one year of imprisonment.
“Election security remains a top priority for the FBI,” stated Craig Tremaroli, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Albany field office, in a news release issued by the Justice Department.
Efforts to contact Jamiel were unsuccessful. Emails sent to his known addresses either bounced back or went unanswered. A phone call was also made to a number listed for Jamiel in a court filing related to a separate lawsuit, but it is unclear if he has legal representation.
Former President Donald Trump has consistently alleged widespread voter fraud as the reason for his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, despite evidence proving otherwise. Public records indicate that Jamiel registered as a member of New York’s Conservative Party a month prior to the election.
The Justice Department emphasized, “Only American citizens are permitted to vote in U.S. elections,” while acknowledging the partnership with DOGE in charging an Iraqi man for unlawful voting in the 2020 election.
The specifics of who Jamiel voted for in the election remain undisclosed. However, in a lawsuit from 2019, he identified himself as a supporter of Trump. The lawsuit targeted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, alleging violations of his rights due to the city’s leniency towards illegal immigration. Jamiel included letters he had sent to the White House expressing concerns about illegal immigration, to which he received a response signed by Trump, thanking him for his correspondence.
Established by Trump to combat inefficiency and fraud in government, DOGE has been actively reviewing various governmental departments. The extent of DOGE’s involvement in the investigation of Jamiel was not elaborated upon by the prosecutor’s office.
