Posted on 09/26/2024 10:03:57 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Three (Republican) county officials were accused of conspiring to file dozens of fraudulent ballots during the 2021 elections
ALBANY — Three Rensselaer County officials accused of conspiring to commit ballot fraud were found not guilty on all counts by a federal jury on Wednesday following a two-week trial that delved into the inner workings of the county’s political machinations.
The jury delivered its verdict after less than two days of deliberations in a case that federal prosecutors and the FBI had taken more than a year to build. That investigation included interviews with dozens of county employees, information gleaned from seized mobile devices and a review of thousands of pages of voting and government records.
The three defendants, all of whom have key roles in the administration of County Executive Steve McLaughlin, were Richard W. Crist, a longtime political operative and the county’s director of operations; James R. Gordon, director of the county’s Bureau of Central Services; and Leslie A. Wallace, a longtime political consultant and McLaughlin’s assistant for constituent relations.
They were each acquitted of a single count of conspiracy to violate the constitutional rights of voters by using their official positions to induce county employees to sign voter registration and absentee ballot applications to sway the 2021 primary and general elections. Gordon was also acquitted of witness tampering for telling someone whose ballot he handled to lie to the FBI. Wallace was acquitted of an additional county of lying to FBI agents when they interviewed her at her residence in February 2022 at the height of the investigation.
The top count against them could have resulted in a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Supporters in the courtroom applauded after the verdict was read. All three of the defendants were visibly moved as they...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesunion.com ...
Was this a show trial to make it look like the FBI was trying to prosecuting vote fraud? I'm skeptical to just how hard the FBI was investigating.
It was against Republicans, so it was definitely lawfare but it failed miserably.
They were trying to convict REPUBLICANS of voter fraud, so what do you think?
The overt prosecutions failed. What succeeded from a Dem perspective: Removal of Republicans from positions where they could watch the 2024 election; cost defendants tens of thousand$ (possibly more) for defense; scared off other Republicans from ever becoming involved lest they be next; smeared the encumbent Republican county administrator and deprived him of key supporters.
I don’t know if the charges are true or not. But if I ever find myself on a jury where the FBI is involved in any way I’m voting to acquit.
Period.
L
exactly
This is why we can’t have nice elections...............
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