Slotkin Pentagon Letters

Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin has asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to confirm that he won’t send troops to polling places during the midterm elections. Federal law typically prohibits the military from deploying armed forces at election locations. But concerns are growing among Democrats that President Donald Trump may try to use the military to intimidate voters or seize voting machines. The Michigan senator also sent her letter to Gen.. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Pentagon said in an email that it will respond directly to Slotkin. The Joint Chiefs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military says there are no plans to send troops to polling places during November’s midterm congressional elections. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the statement in a letter to Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin. The letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press. She recently asked Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to confirm they won’t send troops to the polls. Caine’s letter to Slotkin addresses growing anxiety among Democrats that the Trump administration could try to meddle in the midterm elections. Slotkin's office said it is yet to receive a response from Hegseth.

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