House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced strong criticism against Democrats on Thursday regarding election security, following the charging of non-U.S. citizens for allegedly casting ballots illegally in Michigan. Johnson cautioned that similar situations nationwide present an escalating risk to the integrity of American elections.
“From New Jersey to Michigan, the evidence continues to mount: Illegal aliens are registering and VOTING in American elections,” Johnson stated in a post on X. He further asserted, “Democrats know this — which is why they want OPEN BORDERS and OPPOSE voter ID.” Johnson concluded by calling this a “clear and present danger to the integrity of our elections — and our Republic.” He added that “All Americans DESERVE secure elections, and Republicans are the ones fighting to make it happen.”
Michigan Authorities Announce Charges
Johnson’s comments coincided with an announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who revealed charges against five non-U.S. citizens accused of voting in the 2024 presidential election. Additionally, one U.S. citizen was charged for allegedly registering her noncitizen husband.
These charges stem from a statewide review of 38 suspected instances of noncitizen voting or related activities spanning from 2009 to 2025. Out of these cases, six have led to criminal charges, ten were closed without charges, and 22 are still under active investigation.
“In my office, we’ve always taken election crimes seriously and prosecute attacks on our voting systems to the fullest extent of the law,” Nessel affirmed in a public statement. She emphasized, “We’re upholding election integrity by investigating all claims of noncitizen voters, as rare as they are, and holding bad actors accountable when they refuse to abide by the laws that keep our elections safe and secure.”
During the November 2024 general election in Michigan, more than 5.7 million ballots were cast. State officials have consistently indicated that illegal voting by noncitizens remains an infrequent occurrence.
Broader Context of Election Security Efforts
The announcement of these charges comes as efforts to prevent illegal voting have been a significant focus at the national level. The previous presidential administration, under Donald Trump, prioritized this issue, implementing executive orders in March 2025 and March 2026. These orders aimed to enhance citizenship verification for federal elections and directed federal agencies to provide states with improved access to citizenship and immigration data. The Trump administration also supported legislative proposals that would mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
Specific Allegations and Individuals Charged
The individuals named in Nessel’s announcement include:
- Robert Piva, 67, of Roseville: A permanent resident charged with election law perjury, attempting to vote while unqualified, and fraudulent registration. He allegedly voted early in October 2024 and reportedly claimed his vote was an “experiment” concerning voter fraud.
- Michael Akioya, 39, of Oak Park: Also a permanent resident, accused of making false statements on an absentee voter application and ballot envelope during the 2024 election.
- Alondra Harker, 26, of Three Rivers: A limited-term alien resident facing a misdemeanor charge of fraudulent registration, which carries a potential penalty of up to 90 days in jail. She allegedly registered and voted in person in 2024.
- Harumi Michael, 60, of Wolverine Lake: A permanent resident confronting three felony charges—two counts of election forgery and one count of attempting to vote while unqualified—in addition to one misdemeanor. She is accused of registering and voting in Commerce Township.
- Basanth Sadasivian, 29: A noncitizen residing in the United Kingdom, charged with felony attempting to vote while unqualified, an offense punishable by up to four years in prison. He allegedly registered and voted in 2024 using the Federal Post Card Application system, providing a Bloomfield Hills address.
- Kimberley DiDonato, 60, of Rose Township: A U.S. citizen charged with election forgery and a computer crime. She is accused of impersonating her noncitizen husband to register him online. Authorities reported DiDonato claimed her intention was to test system vulnerabilities before requesting the registration be canceled.
Challenges in Investigations
Nessel’s office did not pursue charges against four individuals who were referred, after determining that two were U.S. citizens, one had acquired American citizenship through international adoption, and another was a federally recognized American Indian born in Canada. Six additional cases were closed without charges due to insufficient evidence of criminal intent or potential errors in registration.
Nessel also noted that delays in cooperation from federal agencies impacted the timeline of the state’s investigations. “While the question of whether any given resident is a citizen may feel simple, some cases are nuanced in unexpected ways,” Nessel explained. She added, “The federal government has not always provided easy or open access to certain necessary citizenship records, and so our investigators had to spend considerable time and effort coaxing cooperation from the federal agencies.”