Four Democrat campaign officials have been charged with ballot fraud related to the 2019 Bridgeport, Connecticut, mayoral primary race. The charges involve various forms of misconduct, with absentee ballots allegedly aimed at influencing the election results.
According to Breitbart News, the officials charged are Wanda Geter-Pataky, Alfredo Castillo, Nilsa Heredia, and Josephine Edmonds. These charges are related to the 2019 Bridgeport mayoral primary race, where three of the defendants supported Mayor Joe Ganim, while Edmonds supported State Sen. Marilyn Moore.
Geter-Pataky is accused of failing to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application and misrepresenting eligibility requirements for absentee voting.
Geter-Pataky also allegedly advised a voter not to vote in person and offered to pick up their absentee ballot. Furthermore, allegations against her include a video showing her stuffing papers into a ballot drop box during Ganim's 2023 reelection campaign. Heredia is accused of instructing voters to select a certain candidate and failing to submit an absentee ballot distribution list.
Castillo's charges include not maintaining an absentee ballot distribution list, misrepresenting eligibility requirements, and failing to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application. He initially denied it but later admitted to assisting a voter with their absentee ballot application.
Edmonds allegedly was present when voters filled out their absentee ballots, took the ballots with her, and tampered with a witness. She also failed to maintain an absentee ballot distribution list. Despite losing the in-person vote, Ganim won the 2019 primary largely due to absentee ballots.
A separate investigation is ongoing into a 2023 incident involving Geter-Pataky. A state Superior Court judge overturned the initial round of the 2023 elections due to her alleged actions, though Ganim still won the race. Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin emphasized the importance of election integrity.
Griffin hopes the prosecutions will deter future election tampering in Connecticut. Ganim claimed he was unaware of the investigation or case until media reports surfaced. He stated that he did not encourage or foster it in his campaign.
We only learned through the media that individuals from both 2019 mayoral primary campaigns have been charged with election violations. We have not been provided with any details other than what is contained in media reports.
Ganim, previously convicted of federal corruption charges in 2003, insisted that the alleged actions were not a norm for his campaign.
All four defendants were released from custody and are due in court on June 24. The case has sparked significant public and media interest, particularly given the serious nature of the allegations and their potential impact on public trust in the electoral process.
The ongoing investigations and court proceedings will likely bring further scrutiny to the actions of the accused officials and the electoral process in Bridgeport. Observers hope these cases will lead to stronger safeguards and accountability in future elections.
In conclusion, the charges against the four Democrat campaign officials highlight serious concerns about ballot fraud and election integrity in the 2019 Bridgeport mayoral primary race. With allegations ranging from failing to sign absentee ballot applications to tampering with ballots and misrepresenting voter eligibility, the case underscores the need for rigorous enforcement of election laws. The upcoming court proceedings will be closely watched, as they have significant implications for public trust in the electoral process and the future of election integrity in Connecticut.
