Even with limited data, the implications are considerable. NPR found that tens of thousands of ballots have been rejected in key battleground states, where the outcome in November — for the presidency, Congress and other elected positions — could be determined by a relatively small number of votes.

For example, President Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by almost 23,000 votes. More than 23,000 absentee ballots were rejected in the state's presidential primary in April. More than 37,000 primary ballots were also rejected in June in Pennsylvania, a state Trump won by just over 44,000 votes.

The numbers are also significant because of large partisan differences in how Americans plan to vote this fall. Democrats have expressed more interest than Republicans in voting by mail — 47% to 28% in the Democracy Fund/UCLA survey. Forty-eight percent of those who intend to vote for Joe Biden say they will use mail-in ballots, compared with 23% of Trump supporters.

In open defiance of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the union that represents the city’s roughly 900 rank-and-file police officers announced that it is partnering with a national police organization to offer free “warrior-style” training for any officer who wants it.

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The warrior-style training most recently came under scrutiny after the fatal police shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights three summers ago.

Jeronimo Yanez, the former St. Anthony police officer who was later acquitted for shooting Castile, attended a two-day training course called “The Bulletproof Warrior,” which critics said trains officers to consider everyone and everything a potential threat.

Arradondo said at the time that the department doesn’t currently train officers in such techniques. It’s unclear how many officers have undergone the training in the past.

In 2007 Kroll was named in a lawsuit four black police officers — including the current chief — brought against the Minneapolis Police Department for discrimination.

As examples of Kroll's prejudicial treatment, the complaint said Kroll openly wore a "white power" patch sewn into his motorcycle jacket. Kroll is reportedly a member of the City Heat Motorcycle Club, which has been cited by the Anti-Defamation League for its white power connections.

The lawsuit also said Kroll referred to black and Muslim US Rep. Keith Ellison as "a terrorist" in the presence of other officers.

The city eventually settled the lawsuit for $740,000.

McHugh: When did this come on your radar again?

LaCasse: Just recently. Tara called me and said, "Oh my gosh, this Joe Biden thing is coming up again." I said, "Oh my God, that." I had forgotten about it.

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LaCasse: Well, you know, I live a kind of a quiet life. So I didn't really even think about coming forward. And I didn't really want to. But if she needed me to, then I thought, well, I guess I will. I have a really drama-free life. And so I didn't want to bring a bunch of stuff on myself, and I loved Tara to death. But she has some drama.

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McHugh: Who initiated that conversation, and what was the context?

LaCasse: I think she did. She mentioned that she had come forward with it, and so I said, "Oh my gosh. Yeah. I do remember that."