The Justice Department is reviewing allegations of election interference in Maine after surveillance footage from Lewiston City Hall raised questions about whether individuals serving as interpreters improperly influenced Somali voters during early voting.

U.S. Attorney for Maine Andrew Benson, appointed by President Donald Trump, said his office would examine "evidence concerning complaints of voter intimidation and election interference," according to The Wall Street Journal.

The federal review follows a report by The Maine Wire, a conservative news outlet that obtained approximately 140 hours of City Hall surveillance footage through a request under Maine's Freedom of Access Act. The recordings cover early voting that began Oct. 13.

The outlet alleged that workers affiliated with nongovernmental organizations used their roles as interpreters to steer non-English-speaking voters toward Democratic candidates and, in some instances, help complete their ballots. The Maine Wire estimated that more than 200 Somali voters received assistance from a relatively small group of interpreters during the period covered by the footage.

Some recordings allegedly show interpreters pointing to ballot selections, handling voting materials, and approaching voters who had not requested assistance. The publication also reported that election officials intervened during some interactions and that Lewiston officials distributed written guidance outlining the rules for providing voter assistance.

The Maine Wire characterized the alleged activity as an "industrial-scale ballot stuffing scheme." However, the footage has not established that fraudulent ballots were cast or that any voters involved were ineligible to participate in the election. Those questions remain central to the ongoing scrutiny.

Maine law allows voters who need help reading or marking their ballots to receive assistance from an interpreter, friend, relative, or another individual. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has explained that assistants do not have to be registered voters or old enough to vote, although employers and union representatives are prohibited from assisting voters in that capacity. Election officials can also assist.

The rules permitting assistance do not authorize intimidation or directing voters to select particular candidates. Federal investigators will review the allegations as questions remain about whether the conduct shown in the recordings crossed that line.

The controversy has also drawn objections from local officials and members of Lewiston's Somali community, who say legitimate voters are being unfairly targeted.

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline told The Wall Street Journal that the Somali community was being targeted by political provocateurs.

Shukri Abdirahman, a county commissioner representing Lewiston, said she had helped two voters with interpretation, including her mother, who cannot read or write English.

"People are just trying to vote. It's very frustrating," Abdirahman said.

The Justice Department's review will examine complaints of voter intimidation and election interference while the underlying allegations remain unproven.