Officials secretly advise states on Trump midterm interference meddling

Roughly 10 current and former US national security officials have been privately advising governors, election administrators and lawmakers tied to 10 states on how to respond if the Trump administration interferes in the Nov. 3 midterms. Several still work for the federal government, though the consultations are informal rather than official.

Two participants said their warnings are based on public statements and their own assessments, not intelligence pointing to any administration plan.

The administration denies any such intent. The White House says it is focused on election security and prosecuting fraud, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said in August the military has no plans to deploy troops to polling sites or seize voting records, and Homeland Security officials have denied plans for immigration operations at polls.