Curtis says he won’t appear in federal court tomorrow to testify
The elections official received a subpoena earlier this month to testify before a federal grand jury and bring June election ballots with him. He said he confirmed today he won’t have to go but did not explain who had informed him he was released from testifying.
Shasta County elections official Clint Curtis said this afternoon that he is no longer going to federal court tomorrow in response to a subpoena he received nearly two weeks ago.
For the last couple of months, Curtis has made claims that some ballots from the June 2026 primary election — which he ran and lost — are “suspect,” alleging they contain irregular ballot markings and abnormal paper textures. On Sept. 10, he received a subpoena instructing him to testify before a federal grand jury and bring with him tens of thousands of voted ballots from the June election to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento.
His court date was tomorrow. This morning he told Shasta Scout that while FBI agents had already come to Shasta to look at the ballots, he was still going to court to make sure he didn’t violate his subpoena.
“I’m not going to bring all the garbage with me,” he said, referring to the voted ballots currently locked in a room at the elections office. “But I will drive there to appear so I can, you know, at least be in compliance somewhat.”
However, around 3:45 p.m. today, he texted a reporter that he had confirmed he no longer has to go to Sacramento tomorrow. When asked who told him he didn’t have to go to court, he didn’t respond.
Curtis said earlier today his confusion about whether he needed to appear in court began during the FBI’s visit last week. He explained that he asked an agent whether he still needed to go to court since the FBI was already taking a look at the ballots. One agent replied that they couldn’t comment since it was an active investigation but said that “this should be enough,” according to Curtis. To get clarification, Curtis said after the FBI left he contacted the federal court, the Department of Justice and an FBI agent.
The FBI declined to confirm its presence at the elections office.
Curtis explained that there were about a dozen officials present when the FBI inspected the ballots last week, but he said he couldn’t share which agencies they were from. The California Secretary of State’s Office confirmed today that members of its staff were present during the FBI’s inspection last week.
It’s unclear whether Curtis was subpoenaed because of concerns about the ballots themselves or about his management of the ballots and election processes. He told Shasta Scout in an interview for a previous story that he was happy about the subpoena, saying this was the result he had hoped for to look into ballots he believes could be counterfeit.
Sept. 23, 2026 8:53 p.m.: We have updated this story to include comment from the California Secretary of State’s Office.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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As long as there is doubt in the election system. It will never go away. Buckle up your seatbelt. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
Still trying to figure what you people are complaining about. The election Clint managed went smooth and was transparent and the results were delivered in a timely manor. Can’t say that about the ’24 Toller/Fransiscut election Tom and Joanne ran.
Squint Hurtus certified the election, then claimed it was somehow queered because ballots didn’t “look or smell right,” then locked the ballots from the last two elections in a secret room, then defied state law by not destroying the ballots of the penultimate past election by the prescribed date, then invited drunk-ass crazy-eyed Kash Patel’s FBI goon squad to investigate, triggering the State of California to deploy observers of the investigation. And to this day Squint can’t or won’t explain the substance of the alleged fraud except to say that it happened. Not coincidentally, the last election is the one where Shasta County voters kicked him to the curb.
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Now Squint’s got some attention-whore election denier with a history of filing groundless lawsuits that get thrown out of court trapsing around the ROV’s office, shooting content for his social media to be consumed by nippleheads who are still too pig-ignorant to realize that MAGA is a huge con, and guys like Squint are taking advantage by running peripheral cons, taking advantage of the moment and the rubes it grifts.
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Nick, if all of that is your idea of transparency, you have a bizarre standard.
I don’t speak gibberish–what was the problem with the June, ’26 election? the election itself?—why are you afraid to use your name?
You’re asking the wrong person what was wrong with the last election. Curtis is the one claiming it was rigged. I’m only saying it’s bullshit that Curtis is transparent. He hasn’t provided a single shred of evidence.
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I started being careful about using my real name years ago. The regularly occurring threats aimed at me by our local Christo-fascists weren’t having their desired effect, so one of them (anonymously, of course) started threatening my family. “I know where (your daughter) works. I know what time she gets off work…”
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Also, it’s not lost on me that these thugs prefer asymmetrical contests. Male vs. female. Young vs. old. Three vs. one. Male vs. female. Armed vs. unarmed. Boot vs. dog. And in the latest event, truck vs. pedestrian.
Nick, you guys still beating that dead horse?
It’s dead already
Apologies to Supervisor Plummer for misspelling his name in my original post. Fingers disengaged from brain,
Thank you Matt Plumber, the only supervisor who responded to me about Curtis. If I understand correctly once a County Department Head is appointed by the BOS there is NO oversight possible unless someone files criminal charges. Still don’t understand why the BOS cannot request the Secretary of State to intervene. I’m not sure that voting this time around is worth the effort if Curtis can break the law with impunity. How can we trust any of it. Again thank you Supervisor Plumber for your response and shame on the rest of you for your silence.
What’s interesting is that, according to multiple reports published this week (including Shasta Scout), the FBI replaced Curtis’ lock on the Shasta County elections office room that contains ballots with its own security lock last week; so yes folks, the FBI actually seized our ballots!
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Now Curtis says the 2024 destruction is scheduled for September 30, well beyond the legal date. What, did the FBI come take off their lock?
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Also of note, Clint Curtis’ buddy Peter Ticktin, one of Trump’s lawyers, was quoted yesterday in a September 23, 2026 report by The Atlantic as advocating that Trump declare a national emergency to impose federal election requirements and take greater control over the 2026 midterms. CNN reporting was cited. But wait, folks, there’s more!
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In the September report, The Atlantic also stated that Ticktin went further. Ticktin said Trump might declare martial law around November 3. Really, martial law?
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Now, Clint, it seems those letters you wrote to Ticktin, Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin should be recoverable through a California Public Records Act request, as the FBI and DHS are thinking of sending ICE agents to America’s polling places on Nov. 3. Trump previously declined to rule out sending National Guard or ICE to voting locations, saying he would do “anything necessary” to ensure the Republicans didn’t lose their butts on Nov 3rd. So hey Clint, are they coming back to Shasta County anytime soon?
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The ties that bind MAGA – The Shasta County Republican Central Committee, Crye, Harmon, Kelstorm, and Curtis to the court-adjudicated rapist- convicted 34-count felon and his national authoritarian administration are more exposed every day.
Christian: This is quite a leap from the FBI changed the lock to the FBI took the ballots. SOS officials have confirmed they were there during the process. Please take care with making statements that create fears about ballot security without cause.
You are right; I stand justifiably corrected. As Cal Maters and you reported, the ballots were not “sized” like those in Riverside, but the FBI “secured” them. What may be unclear is whether the FBI seal prevented Curtis from entering the room or enforcing the law on the 2024 ballots, since they were in the same room; if so, it might not be too far a leap to say it was just fine with Curtis. And because the whole FBI- Supphina is not yet public, I guess we don’t know if the FBI prevented Curtis from obeying California law.
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I think it wouldn’t be a leap to say Curtis MAY HAVE orchestrated the whole show, who, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, “repeatedly called on federal authorities to raid the office and seize ballots from previous elections.” And we know Curtis worked with the people who seemed to be working with Sheriff Bianco, who just lost his case the other day and was told his seizure was illegal. But, you are correct, the Shasta affair was not technically the same as Riverside County’s action.
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My point is that it seems Curtis has succeeded in helping make Shasta County part of that “Tip Of The Spear” Jones and other election liars advocated: using Shasta County government, resources, and MONEY to spread lies and propaganda about elections, and has become nationally known for doing so. In my opinion, if we didn’t live in California, who would be checking and guarding against this nonsense, I would say fear with a cause might be justified.
His comments are an instant TLDR for me.
There is an oversight of the Elephant in the room: specifically, the Federal grand jury room.
Did our county clerk and registrar of voters, Clint Curtis, learn that his presence before the grand jury was for a reason that was the opposite of his long-hoped-for reason?
I have tried repeatedly to access the links to email links from the Shasta County BOS web page. None of them work. The other links seem to work but none for the email of any or all BOS Is this just a me problem?
This guy is NUTS! How did we get stuck with him anyway?
You can thank the BOS for him. They put him in. He’s a direct reflection of the absurdity and stupidity of the BOS who appointed him. I got a phone call yesterday asking me to work the election in November since I’ve worked in past years. As long as he’s in office, I refuse to work elections. I told them as soon as Joanna is back in office, I will absolutely work the elections again.
I am worried about the Nov elections. How will our votes be processed? How can we trust the current ROV and his hand picked staff?! If the BOS has any integrity it will suspend this department head and bar him from touching any of the ballots.
They will have legal counsel fact check the subpoena status and everything Curtis has said. There is a way to do this. What is apparently missing is the WILL. I have sent an email to the BOS, hoping that it reaches them. Contacting the D1 Sup (Crye) is an exercise in futility.
Barring Curtis from the office during the upcoming election will do little. The maga election deniers he hired will still be working.
Most likely just more game playing. “Someone with a badge told me I didn’t have to show up “.
Handcuff time… and a nice visit to Sacramento, the Capitol is great this time of the year. Just put the alleged spoiled ballots in a trailer with an FBI agent and a large shredder and it will be all over. Better yet, let’s have a public shredding party at the Market St. office, unclutter the place before Jo is installed in January.
Raise your hand if you don’t think the Trump Administration would pull strings to make the subpoena by a federal grand jury of an allied MAGA election fabulist go away. Raise your hand if you don’t think the Trump Administration would tell the FBI, run by drunk Kash Patel, to “find something.” This is the most corrupt, authoritarian presidency in American history—if not all of our history, certainly of our era.
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I would like to think Flunky blew off the subpoena and will be held to account, but at this point I have zero faith in any federal agency headed by Orange Mussolini and his henchmen.
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The State of California needs to up its game.
A bit of hyperbole and partisan bias in your statement. I agree the Trump admin does pull strings and throw their influence into the mix in a very partisan fashion. However, their actions are no more repugnant than what occurred during the 12 years of Obama/Biden/Clinton/Holden administrations. The FIFA warrants allowed spying on American church goers, political opponents, Trump campaign officials & maintaining an attitude of “the end justifies the means” for achieving partisan goals. Knowingly omitting facts and analysis confirming the falsehood of testimony from informants, dossiers and even the funding of said informants and dossiers in the hopes of derailing opposition to their agenda. Both parties are equally repugnant and serve their own interests first and the average American constituent is just collateral damage. The same attitude and approach is on full display in local politics as well.
Let’s see: Obama, 8 years; Biden, 4 years; Clinton, 8 years.
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That’s 20 years not 12. It’s called basic arithmetic. Oh, and there was never a Holden administration. He was Attorney General.
Thanks Curtis, I can see where I mislead you.
I was referring to Hillary Clinton who was SOS (and leading Dem fundraiser). She was also the 2016 Dem Presidential candidate vs Trump. I was not referring to Bill. I suppose I can go back that far but didn’t.
As for Holden, he was AG at the time and influenced which investigations would be supported/not supported, boundaries of investigations and which staff should have key roles. This includes squashing investigations the White House did not want in addition to investigations conducted in the hope of uncovering a crime of their opponents.
Your weaksauce “both sides” false equivalency fallacy doesn’t stand up to even the most cursory examination. Sure, there have been oversteps of constitutional authority by past Democratic administrations—most famously by the FDR Administration during WWII. But Der Pumpkinführer doesn’t violate the Constitution out of necessity owing to a pressing threat to national security and even the nation’s continued existence. He does it every day out of narcissistic power-tripping entitlement and self-serving graft. The Trump Administration is the most corrupt in our nation’s modern history.
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If you’re blind to how the Trump family has used the office to enrich itself and to build and rename monuments to Orange Mussolini, you’re willfully ignorant or delusional.
This message has been fact checked and verified by Burisma, Fang Fang, CCP and the Clinton Foundation. 100% accurate
“I’m not going to bring all the garbage with me,” he said, referring to the voted ballots
Golf clap for that, Madison
So now what? We allow our county department heads to ignore subpoenas in their official capacities? There should be consequences. Boy has this board of supervisors and this DA let us down.
This is completely absurd. Has there been any independent verification that Curtis actually received a subpoena? If so, from where? An FBI agent has no authority to dismiss anyone from answering a subpoena. Has Clintie the Clown manufactured this out of whole cloth? Way past time to end this farce.
Selah
I bet you dollars to donuts the impromptu ballot jail room never even got unsealed
Hear, hear!
Our board appointed ROV is a legal scholar & received extensive legal training. What does this say about our educational system?
– He received a subpoena but wasn’t sure if he should go or not, didnt know if he should bring the ballots or not and as a result asked the law enforcement officer who showed up at the office if he should go or not….. His approach of responding like an ignorant and helpless child by deflecting personal accountability and responsibility is not amusing.
Anybody who has even seen a subpoena knows the subpoena will list the court, date, time, location and the contact information should their be any question as to what is being required of them.
Must have been above his pay grade and expertise.
Can we believe *anything* Clint Curtis says?
This is like a bad soap opera.