Bridgeport Ballot Stuffing

[sbhaven]

Some additional local media coverage on it finally starting to appear.

Bridgeport police investigating 'possible misconduct' in election

Bridgeport police are investigating claims of "possible misconduct" in last week's primary mayoral election, officials confirmed to News 8 on Sunday.

The investigation is linked to allegations that a city employee interfered in the race against Democrats Joseph Ganim and John Gomes. Ganim, the current mayor, appeared to have received 51% of the votes, according to initial election results.

Gomes posted about the allegations on Saturday, claiming that the footage shows the race was "unequivocally stollen through corruption within City Hall by tampering with absentee ballots."


The video, which emerged on social media Friday, shows what appears to be surveillance footage of a what it claims is a city employee. Gomes' team alleges that the employee stuffs "multiple illegal absentee ballots" into a ballot box.

The video, which is set to dramatic music that includes the sound of a police scanner, a siren and a helicopter, ends with the message "Election Stolen!"

Gomes has vowed to return on the ballot for the Nov. 7 election. He plans to provide an update on the campaign during a press conference on Monday.

Police told News 8 that the department is "actively investigating information regarding possible misconduct based upon a video that has surface on social media." The department is also conducting an internal investigation to see if there was a possible breach to its security video management system.

The department has increased security of it in the meantime, according to police.

"We take these actions seriously and we will pursue possible criminal prosecution and/or administrative discipline as it relates to any such security violations," Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter said in a written statement to News 8.

If elected, it would be Ganim's eighth term as mayor of Bridgeport. He first served from 1991 to 2003 before spending seven years in federal prison for corruption and extortion charges as mayor. Voters returned him to office in 2015.

"The matter in its entirety has been referred to the Chief of Police along with appropriate officials for review and investigation," Ganim said in a written statement to News 8. "I have full confidence in the Chief, the department, and agencies to handle the apparent illegal actions of any city employees as it involves the release of any city property, including video footage and any related legal or city issues."

Ganim said that police are also investigating "the action caught on video" of a council woman "in an apparent illegal entry of a senior citizen's house and attempting to steal her absentee ballot."

[proofdoubles]

Just business as usual in Bridgeport elections.

[obewan]

https://thefederalist.com/2023/09/18/democrat-produces-video-alleging-bridgeport-mayor-stole-election-by-stuffing-ballot-boxes/

Though the woman in the video looks like Geter-Pataky, her identity has not been independently confirmed. Neither Geter-Pataky nor the Ganim campaign are commenting on the allegations. However, the video is compelling enough that there's an official police investigation. Adding to the suspicions is the fact that, yes, Geter-Pataky is one of the three people that the State Elections Enforcement Commission just recommended charges against for her handling of ballots in 2019.

[CT_Yankee]

Wonder if Ganims opponent will be indicted on multiple felonies for conspiring to overturn an election

[obewan]

Wonder if Ganims opponent will be indicted on multiple felonies for conspiring to overturn an election

He is a Dem so probably not.

[sbhaven]

State Elections Enforcement Commission opens investigation into Bridgeport mayoral primary

The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) voted Wednesday to formally launch an investigation into Bridgeport's Democratic mayoral primary election after a video surfaced of a woman allegedly stuffing ballots into a drop box.

Members of the SEEC voted unanimously, 5-0, on three motions to look into potential ballot fraud. According to initial election results, incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim appeared to have received 51% of the votes, defeating his former aide John Gomes by 251 votes.

"These allegations have the effect of undermining the public's trust in free and fair elections, and we take them very seriously," SEEC Chairman Stephen Penny said.

The first motion was referred by the Bridgeport Police Department to look into the potential use, distribution and possession of absentee ballots found at an apartment complex.

The second motion involves the video shared by Democratic mayoral candidate John Gomes, which he claims shows a city employee stuffing absentee ballots into a drop box several times a week before the Sept. 12 primary. Gomes did not reveal how he got the video.

The third motion related to issuing a subpoena.

"We are going to ask that the subpoena be for all relevant documents with regards to the absentee ballots and that the commission anticipates taking possession and being the repository for such information," SEEC Attorney William Smith said.

News 8 reached out to Ganim and Gomes Wednesday for comment on the commission's investigation but has yet to hear back.

Earlier this week, both Democrats told News 8 they want to get to the bottom of the allegations.

"We want people to feel comfortable when they come out to vote and their votes count," Ganim said.

"This is bigger than John Gomes for mayor," Gomes said. "This is about the oppression of the people of Bridgeport."

Connecticut Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, saw the video and said this can't stand in Connecticut, calling it a threat to democracy.

"The concerns were always that the ballots weren't properly secured and the integrity of the vote was not maintained, but now, for the first time, we have proof," Kelly told News 8. "We need to make sure every person, one person, one vote rule is upheld and supported, and when you allow other people to cast more votes, well, what you are doing is suppressing that constitutional right."

Penny said they will continue working with other law enforcement agencies to determine the facts and said those faces will be brought to light.

Earlier this week, News 8 learned a city employee had been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Their name has not yet been released.

[CT_Yankee]

Ganim must be hated by his own party. Interesting development. Wonder if it will be a real investigation. Opens up a bit if a can of worms doesn't it?

[middletownbob]

i thought elections in CT were the world's model system!

[Ed95Pont]

The bigger problem is nobody cares, It barely makes news. I have shown the video to colleagues at work, Fairly conservative guys. You get a quick reaction and the conversation moves on.

We have known that ballot harvesting, games are huge problem in the cities. Of course the politicians it helps make it easier. Video proof and no one cares.

We are doomed

[ZombieSlug]

The bigger problem is nobody cares, It barely makes news. I have shown the video to colleagues at work, Fairly conservative guys. You get a quick reaction and the conversation moves on.

We have known that ballot harvesting, games are huge problem in the cities. Of course the politicians it helps make it easier. Video proof and no one cares.

We are doomed

Apathy.  I think people are so beaten down by the constant lies they hear from politicians and the media that they don't know what to believe anymore.  So they tune out.  Actually, that is one of the tactics recommended by communist revolutionaries - create chaos and cognitive dissonance which paralyzes citizens into inaction.  It works.

But the biggest factor is that an "independent" media is supposed to report on stuff that is morally wrong in order to create outrage and impetus for change - that is the way it has worked since the founding of this country.  But of course today the media is run and controlled by leftists so they will not report anything that might inhibit the socialist agenda of the Dems.  Without a watchdog press, and without enough responsible citizens who will get outraged and take action (voting the bums out, protesting, spreading the word), yes, we are doomed.  The Dems ever-escalating and willful violations of the Constitution are resulting in the destruction of our constitutional republic.  But I don't think enough people actually know that or believe that, and most just don't care.

They say that only about 1/3 of the US population actually supported the Patriot cause in our American Revolution, and only about 1/3 of those (so about 10% of the population) actively participated by serving or providing resources or support of some kind.  The same was true of the communist revolutions - a small percentage of the citizens actually wanted communism - the rest of the sheep were pulled along with propaganda and fear.  History repeats itself, or at least it really rhymes.