{"id":2266142,"date":"2024-06-12T15:36:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T19:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/connecticut-prosecutors-arrest-4-democrats-for-allegedly-misusing-absentee-ballots\/"},"modified":"2024-06-12T15:42:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T19:42:03","slug":"connecticut-prosecutors-arrest-4-democrats-for-allegedly-misusing-absentee-ballots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/connecticut-prosecutors-arrest-4-democrats-for-allegedly-misusing-absentee-ballots\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut Authorities Charge 4 Democrats with Absentee Ballot Misuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fconnecticut-prosecutors-arrest-4-democrats-for-allegedly-misusing-absentee-ballots%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2266142&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Four Democratic operatives have been charged\u2064 with misusing absentee ballots\u2062 during Bridgeport, \u200dConnecticut\u2019s 2019 \u2062Democratic mayoral \u2062primary. Chief\u2064 State\u2019s\u2062 Attorney Patrick Griffin emphasized the importance of\u2063 election integrity while\u200d announcing the arrests. The accused include Alfredo Castillo,\u200c a Bridgeport city councilman;\u200c Wanda Geter-Pataky,\u200d vice chair of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee; and campaign workers Nilsa Heredia and \u2063Josephine Edmonds. They face charges including \u200dunlawful possession of absentee ballots and witness\u2063 tampering. Allegations include failing to\u2064 sign as assisters\u2063 on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-suspicious-elections-absentee-data-from-detroit-36-of-absentee-ballots-returned-were-from-people-who-were-not-listed-as-being-sent-an-absentee-ballot\/\" title=\"More Suspicious Elections Absentee Data from Detroit: 36% of Absentee Ballots Returned Were From People Who Were Not Listed as Being Sent an Absentee Ballot\">absentee ballot applications<\/a> and misrepresenting eligibility criteria. Heredia also\u200b reportedly failed to submit an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-leaders-arrested-on-charges-of-election-fraud-in-connecticut\/\" title=\"Democratic officials in Connecticut detained on election fraud charges\">absentee ballot distribution list<\/a> \u200cto local\u2063 authorities. These arrests aim to underscore the seriousness of maintaining trustworthy electoral \u200cprocesses. The\u2063 individuals are \u200dscheduled for arraignment on June 24.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure>                         <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Connecticut prosecutors charged four Democrat operatives on Tuesday for allegedly misusing absentee ballots during the city of Bridgeport\u2019s 2019 Democrat mayoral primary. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIntegrity of our voting process is vital to our democracy,\u201d Chief State\u2019s Attorney Patrick Griffin said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/dcj\/press-room\/press-releases\/06112024bridgeport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a> announcing the charges. \u201cI hope these prosecutions will send a message that deters tampering with election results in the future in Connecticut.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bridgeport residents arrested Tuesday include Alfredo Castillo, a Bridgeport city councilman, and Wanda Geter-Pataky, the vice chair of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee. Also charged are Nilsa Heredia and Josephine Edmonds, \u201ctwo other campaign workers who were involved in the 2019 election between Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and his Democratic challenger Marilyn Moore,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wshu.org\/connecticut-news\/2024-06-11\/4-arrested-bridgeport-ct-absentee-ballot-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">local media<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ct.gov\/dcj\/press-room\/press-releases\/06112024bridgeport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">presser<\/a> released by Griffin\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wow-pa-election-observer-drops-bombshell-says-special-agents-from-ags-office-showed-up-at-her-door-to-question-her-after-she-testified-video\/\" title=\"WOW! PA Election Observer Drops BOMBSHELL - Says Special Agents from AG's Office Showed Up at Her Door to Question Her After She Testified (VIDEO)\">office show<\/a> these individuals have been charged with \u201cUnlawful Possession of Absentee Ballots,\u201d with all but Castillo also being charged with witness tampering. <\/p>\n<p>An arrest warrant affidavit cited by Griffin\u2019s office accuses Geter-Pataky \u201cof failing to sign as an assister on an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-secretary-of-state-investigating-voter-registration-group-run-by-democrat-raphael-warnock\/\" title=\"Georgia Secretary Of State Investigating Voter Registration Group Run By Democrat Raphael Warnock\">absentee ballot application<\/a> that she had filled out on behalf of a prospective voter and misrepresenting eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot when she reportedly told a citizen not to vote in person and that she would pick up the citizen\u2019s absentee ballot.\u201d The citizen in question, according to Griffin\u2019s office, \u201clater told [state] investigators that the defendant told her not to speak to anyone about the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, \u201c[c]ourt records show Heredia [allegedly] instructed prospective voters on which candidate to select on their absentee ballots and misrepresented eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot.\u201d Heredia reportedly confessed to state investigators that \u201cshe did not submit an absentee ballot distribution list to the City of Bridgeport Clerk\u2019s Office.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Arrest warrant affidavits for Castillo and Edmonds also indicate purported election crimes.<\/p>\n<p>The former is accused of \u201cfailing to maintain an absentee ballot distribution list, misrepresenting eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot and failing to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application in August 2019.\u201d When deposed by state officials in October 2021, the city councilman allegedly \u201cdenied helping the prospective voter fill out the application but later admitted he had filled out portions of the application.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edmonds is accused of \u201cbeing present when four <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/multiple-democrats-arrested-charged-for-unlawful-possession-of-absentee-ballots-during-election\/\" title=\"Several Democrats Arrested, Charged with Illegal Possession of Absentee Ballots During Election\">prospective voters filled<\/a> out their absentee ballots and took possession of them when she left their home,\u201d as well as \u201cfailing to maintain an absentee ballot distribution list and tampering with a witness for having told her not to testify truthfully in court,\u201d according to Griffin\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p>These individuals are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wshu.org\/connecticut-news\/2024-06-11\/4-arrested-bridgeport-ct-absentee-ballot-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expected<\/a> to be arraigned in court on June 24.<\/p>\n<p>Geter-Pataky\u2019s name should sound familiar to those who read about a separate absentee ballot scandal that rocked Bridgeport\u2019s Democrat mayoral primary last year. <\/p>\n<p>As The Federalist\u2019s Mark Hemingway previously <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/11\/02\/judge-overturns-bridgeport-mayoral-election-due-to-evidence-of-mail-ballot-fraud\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, surveillance video released following the city\u2019s September Democrat mayoral primary allegedly showed Geter-Pataky \u2014 who was affiliated with Ganim\u2019s campaign \u2014 stuffing ballot drop boxes. The incident came weeks after Connecticut\u2019s State Elections Enforcement Commission <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.md\/RUlQU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recommended<\/a> Geter-Pataky, Castillo, and Heredia be criminally charged for their alleged actions during the aforementioned 2019 mayoral primary. <\/p>\n<p>In his <a href=\"https:\/\/civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov\/DocumentInquiry\/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=26199518\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nov. 1 decision<\/a>, Superior Court Judge William F. Clark determined there was, as Hemingway summarized, \u201cmerit to accusations that Bridgeport\u2019s incumbent mayor, Joe Ganim, won his election as a result of significant fraud involving absentee ballots.\u201d This prompted Clark to order a new primary be held if Ganim won the general election, which he did later that month. Ganim <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/bridgeport-mayor-ballots-ganim-gomes-dc07b337fc5cfff93c6f3d067accd759\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">won<\/a> the do-over primary in January and went on to <a href=\"https:\/\/ctmirror.org\/2024\/02\/27\/bridgeport-election-mayor-ganim-wins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">win<\/a> the subsequent general election the following month. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Connecticut prosecutors charged four Democratic operatives with misusing absentee ballots in Bridgeport&#8217;s 2019 mayoral primary. Chief State\u2019s Attorney Patrick Griffin emphasized the importance of voting integrity, hoping the prosecutions deter future tampering<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2266143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Ballot_with_ballot_box_in_Sonoma_California_-_November_2022_-_Sarah_Stierch_02-e1710861112535.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Ballot_with_ballot_box_in_Sonoma_California_-_November_2022_-_Sarah_Stierch_02-e1710861112535.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266142\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}