Politico’s Marc Caputo and Matt Dixon are reporting that the Florida Democratic party has “lawyered up” as it has finally dawned on them that staffers who sent altered documents to voters in an effort to fix vote-by-mail ballots might have broken the law:
The Florida Democratic Party was like “hmmmm, how to make this midterm get worse?”
Oh.
w/@Mdixon55 https://t.co/YS6U2Zca6t
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 16, 2018
From the article:
After saying earlier in the week that the state officials were trying “divert attention” away from the Department of State, which is part of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, the Democrats on Friday took a different approach: They lawyered up.
“Upon receiving notice of the allegations that the form was incorrect, FDP took immediate steps, including hiring an independent investigator to review the issues at hand,” attorney Mark Herron said in a statement provided by a party spokeswoman. “As soon as we know the results of the investigation we will advise you.”
Florida Democrats have also hired an outside investigator to discover which staffers altered the forms:
NEW: Florida Democrats hire investigator to identify who altered an official state form distributed by a deputy field director to remedy problems in vote-by-mail ballots.https://t.co/S8UQy6jEbC
— Ana Ceballos (@anaceballos_) November 17, 2018
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Yeah, OK. Are we to believe that staffers just decided on their own to send out these altered forms?
Furthermore, a Democratic state lawmaker who today talked to @FlaDems party chair Terrie Rizzo, told me today he was told "party leadership" did not alter the form, and that they were looking at "individuals"
— Ana Ceballos (@anaceballos_) November 17, 2018
The feds in multiple jurisdictions in Florida are now investigating:
The Florida Department of State, which oversees elections, last week asked federal prosecutors to investigate altered forms that surfaced in 4 counties.
That case into altered forms is now an open investigation, DOS spox said late on Friday.
— Ana Ceballos (@anaceballos_) November 17, 2018
There’s an “active criminal” investigation at the state level as well:
Florida’s law enforcement agency and Attorney General @AGPamBondi’s Office also confirm they have an “active criminal investigation” into altered forms surfacing during the election.
No further information provided into the scope of investigation.
— Ana Ceballos (@anaceballos_) November 17, 2018
.@FlaDems attorney says this in response to active investigations:
“While we have not been contacted by any external investigators, if we are contacted we will fully cooperate and will share the results of the internal investigation."
— Ana Ceballos (@anaceballos_) November 17, 2018
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Related:
Analysis by Univ. of Florida professor finds Broward's poor ballot design 'may have actually disadvantaged Scott' https://t.co/8hK2Y5Q4Ig
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 17, 2018
Andrew Gillum says the ‘path forward is clear’ in Florida (Hint: It does NOT involve conceding) https://t.co/p4PRTU9RD2
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 16, 2018
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