Petaluma woman arrested and charged in Trump DOJ's purge of alleged fraudulent voters - The Press Democrat
A Petaluma woman has been charged with federal crimes for allegedly registering to vote and casting a ballot while being a non-citizen. The case is part of a broader DOJ initiative called 'Operation Protect the Vote' targeting alleged voter fraud by non-citizens.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing political and legal tension surrounding election integrity and the rights of legal permanent residents in the United States.
The Trump administration’s claims of widespread voting by non-citizens came to Sonoma County on Monday.
Among the 28 people charged with federal crimes under Operation Protect the Vote , the U.S. Department of Justice’s roundup of California residents it says registered to vote illegally, was a 43-year-old Petaluma woman named Verónica Bullene.
According to the complaint filed Monday by the DOJ, Bullene also goes by the name Verónica Hernández Martínez. Prosecutors claim the Mexico-born woman made false statements on her naturalization application, registered to vote in 2022 and 2023, and cast a ballot in 2024.
Bullene is a legal permanent resident, often referred to as a green card holder. People with that status enjoy a wide range of rights in America, but they cannot vote in federal, state or most local elections.
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