Federal court subpoenas Shasta elections official, instructs him to bring voted ballots to Sacramento
ROV Clint Curtis has been subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury. The summons also instructed him to produce records from the June 2026 election, including tens of thousands of voted ballots, some of which he has referred to as “suspect.”
A federal court has formally ordered Shasta County elections official Clint Curtis to testify before a grand jury. Instructions included in the subpoena indicate it’s likely he’ll testify about June primary ballots he’s referred to as “suspect.”
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California subpoenaed Curtis to appear in court on Sept. 24, according to the document, which was provided by a county source and confirmed by Deputy County CEO Stewart Buettell.
Curtis was also instructed to bring with him election-related materials from the June primary, including tens of thousands of voted ballots, when he appears in the Sacramento court. It’s not clear whether Curtis transferring those records to the court would run afoul of a new California law that prohibits removing ballots from the custody of an elections official.
By text yesterday, Curtis said he would be able to discuss the subpoena today. So far today, he has not responded to requests for comment.
Curtis’ concerns about June ballots became public in July, when he said he had contacted federal officials in hopes they’d investigate what he began referring to as “suspect” ballots from the election that took place a month prior. Curtis administered that election and also appeared on the ballot, losing to former Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut. Despite certifying the results, he has since said that some ballots did not look, feel or smell right.
The federal subpoena, which was sent on Sept. 10, referred to a request for “preservation, inspection, sampling, and production” and asked Curtis to produce voter identification envelopes, vote records and voted, spoiled, canceled and unused ballots. Complying with that instruction, which specified that he should produce paper records, would require the movement of the more than 55,000 ballots cast in the June election.
That may be of concern to state authorities, as California passed a law earlier this year that restricts ballots from being taken from the custody of elections officials. California’s Department of Justice has not yet responded to a request for comment, and the Secretary of State’s Office declined to comment.
The law also prohibits law enforcement from interfering with state elections. An FBI agent was included as a point of contact on the subpoena, but it’s unclear what role the FBI may be playing in this case. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last month, Curtis said he had locked the “suspect” ballots in a room at the elections office in hopes of the FBI investigating them. He said the keys had been destroyed, and that the only way to access the ballots is if someone uses a bolt cutter to break the locks.
To comply with the court’s request, Curtis would have to open that room and find a way to safely transport all of the ballots — and other voting records — to Sacramento, something which would require additional security considerations.
Deputy CEO Buetell said he could not comment on whether the county is assisting with these logistical challenges or whether Curtis has sought county counsel in regard to the subpoena.
Annelise Pierce contributed reporting for this developing story.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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Does the registrar of voters have the exclusive rights to this “story,” or can the Shasta County Board of Supervisors contract with Saturday Night Live for the sale of this show?
When I was a young fella, carpet baggers like Klint, wore a suit of feathers and tar, and got a free ride out of town on a rail.
If the election’s in this country were fair and incorruptible, would there be any Republican MAGA’s elected? Back when I was a young fella, most certainly NOT!
“Despite certifying the results, he has since said that some ballots did not look, feel or smell right.” – Hmm so why didn’t Curtis taste or lick the suspect ballots to complete his review??
The Board supervisors who chose this incompetent troublemaker should all lose their seats for the waste of taxpayer money, trust and confidence they have cost the citizens of this county…. and it’s not over yet…
You need to understand when Cathy darling Allen retired she had francheska shred and burn the ballots from the year she was leaving. She wanted no evidence brought against her for fraud well before curtis was elected. Even channel 7 krcr news out of redding published all over the broadcast system. Shasta was very very very corrupt for years.
Speaking of evidence. Do you happen to have any to support your claim regarding CDA?.
Lol
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Bs.
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Prove it.
And you gotta understand that what you’re saying is 100% false but you already know that. Unfortunately there are some like yourself who will believe this or anything else a certain group says even if there isnt a single shred of proof.
I believe ballots can only be held for a maximum of 22 months after Election Day. If there was any concerns about that election as you surmise, then a lawsuit should have been filed and the ballots would have been retained until the lawsuit was concluded. CDA has been the target of baseless allegations since Trump’s landslide loss and his supporters have been perpetuating the Big Lie, by spinning numerous election fraud theories ever since.
That’s a lie. Republicans have been winning in Shasta County for 40 years.
You and readers need to understand that your report is incorrect. On September 13, 2022, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors specifically considered whether to preserve the November 2020 election materials for another six months.
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Loser P. Jones moved to preserve the ballots. The motion failed. After that, Darling Allen proceeded under the statutory retention schedule. The 22-month retention period for the 2020 election had expired on September 3, 2022.
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Francescut told the Board that the elections office was legally required to destroy certain materials. Shasta County Counsel Joe Larmour agreed that California Election Code §17301 required destruction of specified materials, including voted ballots and vote-by-mail voter-identification envelopes.
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Multiple Shasta County Grand Jury investigations examined the county’s election administration, including investigations during Darling Allen’s tenure, and did not substantiate allegations of systematic election fraud or pervasive election irregularities. But Loser Curtis has accused Darling Allen and Joanna Francescut of election crimes, which have so far all been found untrue or unsubstantiated.
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On the other hand, The Los Angeles Times, August 26, 2026, reported that Shasta County had issued the statement and quoted the county as saying Curtis had made “frivolous” claims and “unproven statements” about the June primary, which he had administered and certified. And of course, Curtis has threatened to sue the county multiple times… So far, crickets. But Curtis is to appear before a federal grand jury on September 24, 2026, and to bring specified Shasta County election materials, including ballots, for “preservation, inspection, sampling, and production.” Often, this language is used to set up some kind of court case. And the 09-24 hearing should be interesting.
Good grief- the ballots are required to be destroyed after a certain time period has passed. It’s the law. If you don’t like the law, put up good candidates that can win elections and change said laws. I’m a registered Republican but sheesh- you crackpots need to stop listening to all the right wing nut jobs like Patrick Jones, Patty Plumb, et al and go touch some grass.
KRCR (Sinclair)? LOLOL. The “misunderstanding” is your own.
Cathy Darling Allen was following the law. You have been misinformed.
Clint may very well be in route to the federal penitentiary soon via that court appearance. . . Karma and Justice may occasionally be one and the same.
If Clint is convicted on Federal charges he’ll get a pardon like all the other MAGA criminals.
And Xavier will not fold like an umbrella if Trump tries to blackmail California with threats of withholding federal tax dollars if his sentence is not commuted. Unlike Tina Peters, Clint Curtis will serve his full prison term once convicted.
FBI agent as a point of contact?Something smells very fishy here. Is Bug Eyes Patel about to do some grandstanding? Is the US Attorney involved? Has there been a formal allegation of fraud?
Selah
You raise concerning points. I agree with you.
I have to wonder why the Board of Supervisors didn’t refer the Curtis situation to a local grand jury to investigate? In hind sight, this could have resolved many issues and questions months ago.
Thank you Shasta Scout for your persistent and excellent coverage of this issue.
In hindsight they should never have appointed him to the County Clerk role.
A job he had never done before let alone in California.
But their majority of the board gave him the job because they were also election deniers.
They and him have cost the counties tax papers a small fortune in legal and other costs that were totally unnecessary to have been spent in the first place – such as replacing an entire system marking and counting ballots just because they didn’t like the company who made the equipment and provided the system,
Seems to me to be a bit performative, in that Curtis will be gone in January anyway. However, it sure would be nice to know whether Curtis is just blowing smoke (as usual) or whether his concerns have some basis in fact. I hope that is the point of this Grand Jury proceeding.
We the People will not miss you when the Fed Up Court sentences your scandalous ass to twenty years in Federal Prison.
Bye bye Clint.
Is there any chance you could provide a link to the subpoena? I tried searching for it and was unable to find it. Also in the course of your reporting was there any sense gained of what the subpoena is aiming at? Is this the ideas Clint spews about election funny business gaining traction or is this somebody attempting to put an end to Clints funny business?
I have a bad feeling that this may be Clints rather outlandish ideas getting some play from somebody in the Trump administration an I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
Is this a sitting grand jury or one that has been empaneled specifically for this matter? Was the subpoena issue by a federal magistrate or by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California?
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Whatever is going on, it is apparent care is being taken not to break the chain of custody.
“California passed a law earlier this year that restricts ballots from being taken from the custody of elections officials.”
As long as ROV Curtis accompanies the sealed ballots with proper chain of custody, there should not be a problem.
I do hope that a second person, preferably an unimpeachable witness accompanies Curtis. As a poll worker two people are always used for transport.
Is there a specific date in which Curtis has to testify?
It states in the article, September 24th.
I believe the article says he’s to appear in court on September 24.