An Indian national has been indicted in the US for allegedly falsely claiming to be an American citizen in order to vote in the 2024 general election.Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari was charged by a federal grand jury in Minnesota with two counts related to allegedly making a false claim of US citizenship to vote, according to the US Department of Justice.
What does the indictment allege?
According to the DOJ, Chaudhari signed a voter signature certificate in Minnesota on November 5, 2024, when he voted in the US general election. The certificate required voters to swear or affirm that they were US citizens.The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a US citizen but knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to cast his ballot.
What are the charges against Chaudhari?
Chaudhari faces two federal charges. One count alleges that he provided false information in voting, while the other accuses him of making a false claim of US citizenship in order to register to vote or vote.If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each count. Any sentence would be decided by a federal district judge after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Who is Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari?
The DOJ identifies Chaudhari as an Indian national. Its September 10 announcement did not provide further details about his age, occupation, immigration status or how long he has been in the US.The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office.Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said the department would hold accountable people who knowingly make false claims of citizenship to vote.An indictment is an allegation, and Chaudhari is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
