Update – FBI, DOJ to open an investigation into Jeff Flake’s robocalls

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Michael Bryan posted the video for the report by Brahm Resnik this morning into Jeff Flake's Campaign Misdirecting Democratic Voters to Incorrect Polling Place with Robocalls.

The Arizona Democratic Party alerted state and federal officials of potential election law violations by the Jeff Flake for Senate campaign. Official requests for an immediate investigation were sent to officials at the FBI, Department of Justice, Arizona Secretary of State and Arizona Attorney General. Along with these requests, each office has received a recording of one of the phone calls as well as the contact information for the individuals who have received the calls.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) now reports that the FBI to investigate Jeff Flake campaign over weekend robocall:

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice are preparing to open an investigation into Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Flake after a robocall paid for by his campaign directed some Democrats to the wrong polling locations.

* * *

The Arizona Democratic Party is holding a press conference at 1 p.m. to review the incident and to discuss what next steps the FBI and the Democratic Party plan to take.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: The Arizona Capitol Times has issued a correction in a later report, Dems ask FBI to investigate Jeff Flake over weekend robocall:

The Arizona Capitol Times reported earlier today that the FBI is considering investigating the robocall*. The FBI did not return calls to confirm whether an investigation is being considered.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Lanza confirmed that Democratic Party officials reached out to them and that the conversation about an FBI investigation took place.

Flake's misleading robocalls are continuing even after the FBI complaint. The Pima County Democratic Party issued this press release Monday afternoon:

ALLEGATIONS OF VOTER FRAUD BY FLAKE CAMPAIGN NOW SPREAD STATEWIDE
Southern Arizona voters report receiving misleading calls from Senate hopeful late Monday

5 November, 2012

Tucson – With 13 hours remaining until polls open on Tuesday, U.S. Senate hopeful Jeff Flake may have found himself the target of an eleventh hour law enforcement probe into reports of widespread voter fraud. Late Monday, at least two Democratic voters in Tucson reported receiving phone calls from the Republican campaign directing them to the wrong polling locations tomorrow.

These are the first known reports of these calls occurring outside the Phoenix metro area and bring the total number of reported calls to over 10 statewide in the past 48 hours.

“Any allegations of voter deception are profoundly serious, and I'm glad law enforcement have been alerted,” Said Local attorney and Democratic Chairman Jeff Rogers. “I think that Flake, McSally and Paton should all shut down their call programs until we get to the bottom of this. Southern Arizona voters deserve at least that.”

The investigation stems from a report by Phoenix NBC affiliate Channel 12 News, detailing what appears to be a coordinated attempt to mislead voters with robocalls directing them to incorrect polling locations, some as far as ten miles away.

Fielded on Saturday and Sunday, the misleading calls targeted Democratic voters in both Phoenix and Tucson, prompting the calls for investigations that were reported only hours ago.

Channel 12 News: VIDEO – Flake robocalls provide wrong polling places
Capital Times: Dems request investigation into Flake robocalls

###


Discover more from Blog for Arizona

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.