FBI special agents searched an office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative on Thursday as part of a Justice Department investigation into its voter registration efforts, three people familiar with the matter told NBC News.

The search comes amid ongoing scrutiny by President Donald Trump's administration over alleged voter fraud. The FBI in February also raided a Georgia elections hub related to the 2020 presidential election, and California prosecutors have said they are looking into claims of voter fraud in the Los Angeles mayor's race after Trump made unfounded suggestions of fraud.

What the Right Is Saying

A Justice Department official said search warrants "are authorized by a judge and anything said by any organization or others in the media is unfounded speculation, as the target of any investigation is not privy to the search warrant affidavit until after indictment." The official emphasized that investigations follow standard legal procedures.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose referred hundreds of cases to the Justice Department last year, saying more than 1,000 noncitizens appeared to have registered to vote in Ohio, and that 167 had cast ballots over four federal elections dating back to 2018. The referrals form part of a broader effort by Trump's administration to pursue voting-related investigations.

The Trump administration has maintained that concerns about election integrity are legitimate priorities for law enforcement, though government officials and election experts note that voter fraud in the United States is uncommon.

What the Left Is Saying

Prentiss Haney, a board member of the organization and its former director, accused the Trump administration of voter intimidation. "It's clear that this administration is fishing to try to drum up stories around fraud," Haney told NBC News on Thursday night. "It's clear that this administration is trying to target civil rights leaders and community leaders and folks who are doing that work, because they don't see a path for themselves to actually legitimately hold power beyond this year."

Haney said the FBI sent special agents to the homes of people affiliated with the organization. "They're weaponizing the government, the federal government, and using taxpayer dollars to do illegitimate investigations in the state," Haney said, accusing the administration of intimidation with what he called "mob boss energy."

Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, said she was alarmed by the development. "My office has contacted the FBI demanding information, and I am deeply concerned that this is an effort to use federal law enforcement to intimidate and halt voter registration and organizing efforts," she said in a statement. "This is an unprecedented attack on democracy: these raids must end immediately."

What the Numbers Show

Voter registration data cited by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office indicates more than 1,000 noncitizens appeared to have registered to vote across multiple elections since 2018. Of those, 167 individuals are reported to have cast ballots over four federal elections during that period.

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative was formed in 2007 and describes its mission as organizing everyday Ohioans "building transformative power organizations for racial, social, and economic justice." In 2017, a paid canvasser for the organization pleaded guilty in a fraudulent voter registration scheme.

U.S. Attorney David Toepfer of the Northern District of Ohio was in Washington on Thursday during the search. A spokesperson for his office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether the investigation is connected to LaRose's referrals or the 2017 case.

The Bottom Line

The FBI confirmed law enforcement activity at the Ohio Organizing Collaborative's office, though details of the investigation remain sealed pending any potential indictment. The organization's members say they are cooperating with what they characterize as politically motivated scrutiny, while DOJ officials maintain investigations proceed through proper legal channels.

What happens next: Watch for whether charges are filed and how the Justice Department characterizes its rationale for the search. The outcome could set precedent for how federal authorities pursue voter registration-related cases during an election year.