Attorney General Neronha successfully defends State in baseless Department of Justice complaint

Published on Friday, April 17, 2026

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today released the following statement after Judge Mary S. McElroy granted the State’s motion to dismiss the civil complaint brought by the Department of Justice in United States vs. Amore.

“Historically, the Department of Justice has sought to protect the public by upholding the rule of law; this isn’t the case anymore. More than half a century after Watergate, which established a tradition of operational independence, the Department of Justice has been compromised by the Trump Administration and is now primarily focused on doing the President’s bidding, which more often than not, is entirely baseless and often retaliatory in nature.

“My Office is full of talented, hardworking lawyers, some of whom flawlessly argued on behalf of Secretary Amore before the Court. That said, I never thought for a second we wouldn’t win this case, because lawsuits concerning lawful conduct are largely unsuccessful. The President cannot legally access personally identifiable information within our voter rolls; their maintenance and security remain responsibilities that Congress and the Constitution entrust to the states.

“I thank Judge McElroy for her thoughtful decision in this matter, and Secretary Amore for his partnership in this case. My Office and democratic attorneys general across the country will continue our relentless pursuit of the rule of law, and we will not hesitate to protect Americans from executive overreach.”

###