Connecticut GOP leaders known as on the US Division of Justice Friday to launch a probe into allegations of election fraud in Bridgeport after eyebrow-raising feedback by one of many accused spurred considerations about systemic scandal within the state.
Connecticut Common Meeting Republicans despatched a letter to US Lawyer Common Pam Bondi after Bridgeport Metropolis Council Member Alfredo Castillo claimed he was solely “following orders” from Democratic leaders to get out the vote as he denied wrongdoing in connection to allegations of fraud within the metropolis’s 2023 mayoral race.
“I’m innocent,” Castillo advised Solely in Bridgeport after his Feb. 21 arrest. “I’m following the orders of the Democratic Party. This is what they tell us to do, get out the vote. Then we get criminalized.”
Days after these feedback Connecticut Republicans like State Rep. Vincent Candelora wrote and despatched a letter to the DOJ requesting an investigation.
“Councilman Castillo’s own words suggest a broader operation at play, involving efforts to benefit high-profile Democratic candidates at the state and federal levels,” Candelora stated of the investigation throughout a press convention Friday.
“We cannot ignore the possibility that these corrupt practices extend beyond Bridgeport.”
Castillo was amongst 5 native political operatives criminally charged for allegedly mishandling absentee ballots within the 2023 Bridgeport Democratic main between Mayor Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes.
Ganim was declared winner when absentee ballots rolled in after Gomes received essentially the most votes on the polls, the Chief State Lawyer’s Workplace stated this month when asserting felony motion.
A choose ordered a brand new election after Gomes claimed voter fraud, although Ganim once more emerged victorious.
Castillo, 53; Maria Pereira, 57; and Jazmarie Melendez, 26, are the trio of metropolis council members dealing with fees whereas the town’s Democratic City Committee vice-chair Wanda Geter-Ptaki, 68, is dealing with 92 fees together with conspiracy to take possession of a number of absentee ballots, chief state lawyer officers stated.
Margaret Joyce, 45, who was allegedly a part of the absentee poll scheme, was additionally charged.
The allegations carried out embrace instructing absentee voters who they need to solid their ballots for, altering ballots, filling out and submitting different voters’ ballots themselves and registering a non-citizen to vote.
Castillo in his interview with Solely in Bridgeport additionally bemoaned that he’s “pissed and frustrated” to face the felony fees, claiming, “If we don’t get out the vote, Ganim loses.”
When responding to the allegation that he registered a non-citizen to vote, he stated, “How am I supposed to know? She gave me a social security number.”
“How much more loyal do you want us to be? We get out the vote and we get criminalized,” he stated.
“Now we have to pay for lawyers. I have a wife and kids who are afraid of me going to jail. The party should have lawyers representing us.”
GOP officers within the Structure State need to know if comparable fraud is going on in different components of the state.
“Such an investigation is critical to restoring public trust in our election system, which has been severely undermined by the scandals in Bridgeport,” in line with the letter.
The 5 defendants have both denied wrongdoing or remained mum in regards to the fees.
