In Albany, New York, an Iraqi national residing in upstate New York has been formally accused of voting illegally in the 2020 election. U.S. prosecutors shared that the investigation was assisted by the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk. This announcement follows the filing of charges against 45-year-old Akeel Abdul Jamiel. According to the legal documents dated April 25, Jamiel, who lived in South Glens Falls—approximately 50 miles north of Albany—voted in Saratoga County despite being aware he was not a U.S. citizen.
Jamiel now faces charges for casting a vote as a non-citizen, an act which is classified as a misdemeanor and carries a potential sentence of up to one year in prison. “Ensuring the security of elections remains one of the FBI’s top national security priorities,” stated Craig Tremaroli, the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Albany field office, in a Justice Department press release.
Attempts to contact Jamiel have been unsuccessful as messages sent to previous email addresses were either undelivered or unanswered. Additionally, a phone number associated with Jamiel in an unrelated legal matter did not help establish contact. Court records offer no insight into whether Jamiel has legal representation.
Former President Donald Trump attributed his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden to widespread voter fraud, although investigations and analyses refute these claims. Public documents reveal that Jamiel registered with New York’s Conservative Party a month before the election took place.
“The Justice Department highlights the imperative that only U.S. citizens are entitled to vote in American elections,” the department stated. A partnership with the Department of Government Efficiency has culminated in charges against Jamiel for his illegal voting in the 2020 election.
The specific candidate Jamiel supported in the election remains unclear. However, a 2019 legal suit reveals he identified as a Trump supporter. The lawsuit against the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio alleged that Jamiel’s rights were violated through New York’s accommodating approach to illegal immigration. Included in the lawsuit were letters Jamiel had sent to the White House, describing an “invasion” by illegal entrants. A letter from Trump himself, acknowledging Jamiel’s concerns and thanking him for his communication, was also part of the documentation.
Established by Trump with the objective of cutting government waste and fraud, the Department of Government Efficiency has examined various governmental sectors including those managing federal properties and workforce. The prosecutor’s office, however, did not specify the particular role the department played in Jamiel’s investigation.