From The Article:
As was reported by the CTPost and other local outlets Tuesday morning, four individuals were charged with election-related crimes arising from the 2019 Democrat primary mayoral race in the city of Bridgeport, CT.
At least two of the four reportedly surrendered to Connecticut State Police earlier today.
As the result of a 2000 constitutional amendment, Connecticut has no county sheriffs, which followed the abolition of county government in 1960.
Those arrested — Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee Vice Chairman Wanda Geter-Pataky, City Councilman and Ganim supporter Alfredo Castillo, Ganim supporter Nilsa Heredia, and Josephine Edmonds, who supported the 2019 Democrat challenger to Ganim — “were charged with multiple counts of election fraud in connection with absentee ballots for the 2019 mayoral primary,” CTPostreported.
The 2019 charges claim the defendants collectively assisted voters in completing absentee ballots without properly reporting it as well as of “misrepresenting eligibility requirements” and pressuring voters to cast their ballots for a particular candidate.
The Article Continues:
Stemming from last year’s primary revelations, in early May the Connecticut-based organization Fight Voter Fraud, Inc. (FVF), launched by Linda Szynkowicz in 2018, brought two criminal complaints from three Bridgeport citizens to the Connecticut Superior Court to effect the immediate arrests of Geter-Pataky and another individual.
Attorney Cameron Atkinson represents the organization, whose complaints cited Connecticut General Statute (CGS) 9-368 as their basis. The statute reads:
Upon the written complaint of any three electors of a town in which a violation of any law relating to elections has occurred to any judge of the superior court for the judicial district within which the offense has been committed, supported by oath or affirmation that the complainants have good reason to believe and do believe that the allegations therein contained are true and can be proved, such judge shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused.
After the Superior Court declined to take action, FVF appealed to the state Supreme Court. Oral argument was presented May 1, with a decision pending.
Of Tuesday’s development, in a statement early Tuesday evening Atkinson told The Post & Email:
We are happy that the Chief State’s Attorney took a small step toward cleaning up years of entrenched corruption in Bridgeport elections. There is much work left to be done though, including for crimes committed during the 2023 mayoral primary. We will continue to pursue our case at the CT Supreme Court until we hold everyone involved accountable.
A statement from Szynkowicz reads:
We’re thrilled to see the justice system work to uphold the integrity of our elections as we await the decision in our recent case before the Connecticut Supreme Court. We remain committed to ensuring one vote for every legal voter.