Democrats are calling on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) internal watchdog to open a probe into new whistleblower claims that the agency unlawfully accessed state voting records as part of the Trump administration’s escalating attempts to access state voter data.

In a letter Thursday, Senate Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (Calif.), urged DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to “immediately” open an investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower’s claims.

“All these claims require a thorough and objective investigation, including whether authority exists to collect and use all relevant data, free of interference by agency leadership,” the senators said.

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President Donald Trump has mobilized large swaths of the federal government in an effort to root out alleged voting fraud despite his own Department of Justice (DOJ) failing to provide any evidence to multiple judges that it occurs at significant rates. Trump has enlisted agencies like the U.S. Postal Service and Homeland Security, which have traditionally helped states conduct elections, in his effort to find this alleged voting fraud.

“In addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately...

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