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Subscribe to RSSThe Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks to NBC's Michael Isikoff about Florida voting fraud and what's being done about it now
Updated: 8:46p.m. ET: Election officials in six Florida counties are investigating what appears to be "hundreds” of cases of suspected voter fraud by a GOP consulting firm that has been paid nearly $3 million by the Republican National Committee to register Republican voters in five key battleground states, state officials tell NBC.
But the veteran GOP consultant, Nathan Sproul, who runs the firm, strongly defended his company's conduct, saying it has rigorous "quality controls" and blamed the alleged fraud on the actions of a few "bad apples," workers who were hired to register Republican voters for $12 an hour and then tried to "cheat the system."
The allegations of suspected voter fraud committed by Strategic Allied Consulting of Tempe, Arizona spread Thursday to counties throughout Florida. At the same time, the Republican National Committee said it had severed its ties to the firm altogether.
"We have heard from supervisors in six counties that they have irregularities in voter registration," said Chris Cate, spokesman for the Florida Department of State, which oversees the state's division of elections. Although local prosecutors are already investigating the firm's conduct, Cate said state officials were also considering turning the matter over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to determine if there was a pattern of misconduct.
The suspected fraud included apparent cases of dead people being registered as Republican voters, said Paul Lux, the supervisor of elections in Okaloosa County and a Republican. He compared the suspected fraud to the alleged acts of ACORN, the liberal activist group that became the center of a national controversy several years ago.
"It's kind of ironic that the dead people they accused Acorn of registering are now being done by the RPOF" [Republican Party of Florida], Lux said in an interview with NBC News.
While Republican groups as a whole are still outspending Democratic groups, the gap is narrowing, in part to the individual donors finally stepping up on the Democrats' behalf. NBC News' Michael Isikoff discusses.
In addition to Palm Beach County, where election officials initially reported 106 instances of suspected fraudulent registration forms, officials in Okaloosa, Pasco, Santa Rosa, Lee and Clay counties have also reported instances of possible fraudulent forms submitted by the firm, officials said.
In a statement on Strategic Allied's website, the firm's lawyer said:
"Strategic has a zero tolerance policy for breaking the law. Accordingly, once we learned of the irregularities in Palm Beach County, we were able to trace all questionable cards to one individual and immediately terminated our working relationship with the individual in question. Strategic is committed to following the letter of the law and will continue to cooperate with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections to ensure that this issue is resolved."
Sproul said in a telephone interview that his company has employed between 4,000 and 5,000 people to register Republican voters under its contract with the RNC, including over 2,000 in Florida. The employees are given training on how to register voters, including being required to watch a video instructing them not to register felons. The video also instructs recruiters not to "modify or falsify voter registration forms."
"No matter what quality controls you have there are always going to be bad actors in any large scale operation," Sproul said.
Sproul, who has long worked for the GOP, also criticized Florida and national Republican officials for dumping him.
"They're trying to get the distraction behind them," he said about the RNC's action.
Sean Spicer, communications director for the RNC, said Strategic Allied Consulting had been retained by the RNC and state Republican parties to register new Republican voters in five key battleground states.
But Spicer said that the party's relationship with the firm-- which has been paid $2.9 million by the RNC so far this year, according to federal elections records -- has now been terminated in light of alleged voter fraud linked to one of the firm's employees that was reported this week to Florida prosecutors by election officials in Palm Beach County.
"We've made it clear we're not doing business with these guys anymore," said Spicer. "We've come out pretty strong against this kind of stuff -- and we have zero tolerance for this."
Strategic Allied’s parent firm, Lincoln Strategy Group, also headed by Sproul, has been paid about $80,000 by the Romney campaign to conduct "field consulting," according to election records. Asked for comment, Sarah Pompei, a spokeswoman for the Romney campaign, said by email: "We used this vendor for signature gathering services during the primary but have not used them since 2011."
Besides Florida, Strategic Allied Consulting was hired to register GOP voters in Nevada, North Carolina, Colorado and Virginia. Spicer said it was the only firm hired by the RNC to conduct voter registration. In the case of Nevada, he said, the RNC was paying the firm directly. In the other four states, the firm was being paid by state parties with the funds reimbursed by the RNC.
The allegations involving voter fraud by the GOP consulting firm are a new twist in the national controversy over the threat posed by voter fraud and the impact of new state laws passed by Republican controlled legislatures to combat it. While Republican officials have repeatedly accused Democratic groups such as ACORN of fraudulently registering voters in the past, the new dispute over what happened in Palm Beach-- involving the registration of Republican voters -- appears to be one of the first to have led to a criminal inquiry in this year's election.
Christine Weiss, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office, told NBC News Thursday that the alleged voter fraud by a Strategic Allied Consulting employee is "currently being investigated" by prosecutors in her office after it was brought to the attention of prosecutors on Monday by Palm Beach election supervisor Susan Bucher.
Out of 304 Republican voter registration forms recently dropped off by a Strategic Allied employee at a small "satellite office" of the Palm Beach elections office, 106 were flagged as potentially fraudulent-- including "a lot" with "similar looking" signatures and others with apparently phony addresses, Susan Bucher, the Palm Beach elections supervisor, said in an interview.
Among the suspect home addresses were those that matched a gas station in Miami, a medical building in Boca Raton and a Land Rover automotive dealership in Palm Beach County, she told NBC News.
Bucher said she called in the political director for the Palm Beach Republican Party and the GOP official agreed that the registration forms were a problem. She then took the forms to the Palm Beach County State's Attorney's office on Monday and requested the investigation.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, Mike Grissom, executive director of the Florida Republican Party, said: "When we learned today about the instances of potential voter registration fraud that occurred in Palm Beach County, we immediately informed the Republican National Committee that we were terminating the contract with the voter registration vendor we hired at their request because there is no place for voter registration fraud in Florida."
Sproul has been previously accused of suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms, and manipulating ballot initiatives. His firms -- formerly Sproul & Associates, Lincoln Strategy, and Strategic Allied Consultants -- had previously worked for RNC voter registration efforts during the campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain. In 2004, Democratic Senators Leahy and Kennedy sent a letter to then Attorney General John Ashcroft requesting that he "launch an immediate investigation into the activities of Mr. Sproul and his firm." But the request did not lead to any criminal charges against Sproul.
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They only have zero tolerance when their caught. The GOP needs to be voted out of office!
it is the republicans who have been dividing the country! they don't give a dam about us or our children. not only would this country had been better off without bush, cheney & rumsfeld, THE RECOVERY WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER IF NOT FOR THE OBSTRUCTIONISM OF THE REPUBLICANS! THEY HAVE STUNTED THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY & JOBS TO MAKE OBAMA LOOK BAD AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICANS!
the republicans past more bills in the last 2yrs dictating what women do with their bodies than any other time in history &more than any other bills. the house left for 5wks then again for 8wks & left earlier for the 8wks than any other time in history. democrats pleaded for repubs not to because at the expense of americans, repubs are doing all they can to make Obama look bad. WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO PAY THESE PEOPLE!? YOU & I WOULD NOT HAVE A JOB IF WE DID NOT DO IT!
THEY DO NOTHING THEN GO ON 2 MONTH VACATIONS & STILL GET PAID. ??? WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS!? WE HAVE TO STOP THIS!!!
they are still sitting on a jobs bill, a farm bill, voted down a veterans jobs bill, placed holds & blocks on another. rachel maddow had strong words for mitt:
"Rachel dared mitt to take a position on republican’s obstruction of 2 bills for veterans — cost of living adjustments for families of soldiers who die at war,& the veterans jobs corp bill — on which the GOP anonymously placed holds & blocks.
The GOP is actually obstructing a bill to help our veterans get jobs when they return home, and blocking a bill that would increase the payments to mothers, fathers, and children left behind because their loved one gave their life to serve their country.
Seriously.
The GOP is all about “support the troops!” when that means, “Give more money to military manufacturers!” But ACTUALLY support the troops? To hell with that — don’t even let the bills be debated on the floor!
“You’re the leader of this party — do you have anything to say on this?”
“Do you think the Senators from your own party should stop blocking the Veterans Jobs Corp bill?”
It’s a bit long — over 16 minutes — so if you don’t have time skip ahead about half way. But it’s worth every minute.
Romney is the leader of his party — despite his poor leadership — and, as someone trying to become the Commander In Chief, one would hope he would actually support the troops."
"Maddow knows this topic well. Her new book, Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power, “argues that we’ve drifted away from America’s original ideals and become a nation weirdly at peace with perpetual war, with all the financial and human costs that entails.”
No one should be alarmed by this latest news; what would you expect from those who believe that they don't answer to fact checking!?! RNC stands for Republican's Newest Corruption! Look; they see the whole thing slipping away just as most Dems predicted during their caucus season. It was so obvious that not one of them was suited to run til we laughed constantly at their bumbling, lol!
Voter fraud is not a stretch for the GOP because they simply suck at politics. They typically challenge the wrong laws; such as, women's rights! They are convinced that money is the ONLY power and that everyone should bow to those who control it BUT; that's simply not the spirit of America and they don't get why? Its called PRIDE!!!
ReSuckicans can be bought so they believe you should have a price tag too. They think all American's birth sign is the dollar ($) sign and that is the only zodiac that matters, lol. They are thick-headed because even after being caught time and again for wrong-doings; still they keep trying to pull the wool and then they try to comfort themselves by saying, "Awww, the Democrats are doing the same things!" But they are not! They want a world where the mighty rule and the weak are either stepped on or disregarded completely. The word "neighbor" means nothing to them unless one of their "neighbors" is hosting a gala of some sort where they can hob-knob and talk sh!t about us; those feeble farts; the 47%!
The Democrats are America's true descendants from the stalwart stock of yesteryear; we have true moral fiber but the ReSuckicans...the ReSuckicans crawled from under a rock!
Right on...
And just how many criminal prosecutions will be see out of this attempt by the Republicans to ensure the sanctity of the Election Process???? My guess is ZERO. Rick Scott didn't get where he is by playing by the rules.
What makes you think that this is not continuing??? Only thing that has changed is that there will be much less visibility. Driven underground. Will continue until election day.
I think the American people have had all they can stomach from these tea bagging obstructionists in congress and in the senate and they'll be voted out soon.
WHEW!!!! Thank You! GOP. If it hadn't been for you, We'd have NEVER caught you! GRATS! GUYS! You FINALLY uncovered where the actual fraud has been coming from all these years. GOOD JOB GUYS! :-) @Hagran1
And just how many criminal prosecutions will be see out of this attempt by the Republicans to ensure the sanctity of the Election Process????
I have to agree with you. If President Obama won't turn Bush and Cheney over to the Hague, why would he even worry about this. Only gripe I have with this administration. If I murder a person for NO reason. I face the death penalty. Apparently Presidents can kill thousands, for NO apparent reason. And spend time retiring in Texas. @Hagran1
This Republican Party needs to be disolved.. Everything about it stinks. I'm sure that there are a few good. But, well majority are insane, racists, and down right ignorant.
Don't Boo, VOTE! And trust me, this nation absolutely needs AT LEAST, two parties. Parties all through our history have had "radical" ideas. For example, IF Washington were here today, he'd be labeled a "Liberal", same for Madison. However back then, THEY were known as the "Radical" side. For believing in a "Central" government. OR BIGGER Government. Guess what. Cooler heads, AND the American people prevailed, and we are still alive and kicking. For the present day "Radicals"....losing ain't the end of the world. Get your stuff together. AND form a VALID, BELIEVABLE, argument. Based on Policy. NOT Social Morality. After all. To quote a famous philosopher "There is NO measure of sin" AND "He who is without sin, cast the first stone". Neither party has a "monopoly" on GOD. We'll ALL be judged as individuals. NOT Political party affiliation. :-) @Hagran1
'OK, here is the deal: you guys go out and cheat but if you get caught, you will be on your own. We will have to act like you did it without us knowing it. Here is $3 million to get started with, hire folks at minimum wage and get all the Retardicans you can put on the rolls, but dont say anything about this little meeting, OK?'
I trust the Republican Party like I would trust the Mafia to hold my money while I visit my mother!
I think I'd come out better if the Mafia held my money!
Republicans for Obama
Because the GOP has no integrity at all anymore!
The conservative paradox - the NRA sells guns to the wrong people so that they can scare the rest into buying more guns. The get-government-out-of-our-lives folks pass laws that put women through transvaginal ultra-sounds and still might not allow women to have a life-saving procedure because these good 'ol boy Christian types don't permit that kind of thing with YOUR body. The Grand Obstructionist Party gets elected on the "Where are the jobs?" chant and then does ZERO for jobs! They worry about all 100% of us but want to kill student loans, Medicare, Social Security, public works projects while they protect the top 2% from tax increases because they are the "Job Makers" - the Job Makers who have collected 90% of the wealth created in this country over the last 30 years but haven't created any jobs! The Republicans are so afraid of voter fraud they disenfranchise millions "just in case it ever happens" while they are busy putting in the "fix" in the next election! Every Republican should lose his or her election by 98% to 2% but they won't - because the American electorate is the most badly informed and ignorant group of people on the face of the earth!
Sure got quiet in this discussion ........ Republicans must be looking for excuses !
Republicans for Obama
Because the GOP has no integrity at all anymore!
Hmmm? You know...you're right! Where are all of our mud-slinging, sh!t talking, buddies? It IS quiet; too damn quiet! HELLOOOOOOOO! GOP defenders???
Look; no one is trying to rub it in; we just can't understand why you Tea-Party people and right-wingers, neo-cons, as well as you staunch Republicans, couldn't see all along just how corrupt the GOP is. Seriously; this is just the tip of the ice burg. They've been cheating all along! These past four years; we haven't been crying "racist" for nothing. We haven't been picking on the Republicans just to be picking on them. THEY ARE CORRUPT TO THE BONE!
The GOP actually did box the President in so he couldn't get us out of this trouble with the economy. They have been actually willing to sink America just to get rid of Pres Obama. Liberals just don't think that way. Country first!
Robme and Lyin Ryan simply have nothing to offer except trickery and LIES!
Obama/Biden, 2012!
Right on...
Looks like the Democratic Parties - Globe Trotting Election Official and all around nice guy - Jimmy Carter [D-Ga] has a few sanctuary cities to officiate this election season. Will his election crew be up to the task. After all, its not who votes, its who counts the votes !
Hmmmm. I am wondering.... Just where in the Constitution does it say that you lose the right to vote just because you are dead? I am sure the Robert's Court can find some precedent to support this. Nice to know that the RNC is so worried about the dead's right to vote. Actually this could explain the Tea-Party. they are brain dead anyway.
I wonder what Romney has to say about this? Remember he is the leader and he made it very clear that anything in the Obama campaign is Obamas fault and responsibility.And Obama has to answer for it. I hope this is a question in the debate. What do you do when you find your campaign is committing voter fraud? Stammer,stammer, stammer of course. Squint, squint and squirm. So Romney what do you have to say about this? And I agree anyone found cheating and committing fraud even if only to find out it can be done should be jailed for a felony and their voting rights removed forever. Do you think that might straighten the republican liars and whiners up. I don't know how many times the republicans complain but when all is said and done the republicans are the only ones found committing fraud, lying and hiring these despicable people. THey know what they are doing they just don't think they will get caught. They have to. It happens too often. And republicans I have a recommendation. Find out what your party really does while accusing the other side. I would bet you have no idea. I sure didn't. But now I do..
"We've made it clear we're not doing business with these guys anymore," said Spicer."
Translation: We use different firms now, ones that are better at not getting caught.
Folks this is only what the repugs have been caught doing. If it weren't for Texas, the GOP would be obsolete as a party, but because they manipulate the districts to eliminate the hispanic influence, they can pad the House.
Disgusting greedy a$$holes shamelessly using morality and Christianity to further a dying ideology.
republicans resort to
fraud to win an election
The ACORN didn't fall far from the tree!!
It is pretty obvious that the American voting system is outdated and antiquated. The fact that one of our major political parties can commit this atrocity is criminal. New laws must be made to stop this. It isn't right, it isn't fair and it is cheating and no one likes a cheater.
Republicans know they can't win on the merits, so these overgrown frat boys do what they did as kids. CHEAT.
Where is the so called liberal media on reporting this ...this has been happening every where for a long time...and all you hear about is ACORN ...why
GOP Voter Registration Firm Turns in Thousands of 'Invalid' Registration Forms in California
Long history of Republican registration fraud continues, dwarfs allegations against ACORN workers
By Brad Friedman on 5/4/2012
According to a report today from Sacramento ABC affiliate News10 [see video posted below], a private, for-profit firm calling itself Momentum Political Services, hired by the local Republican Party "to boost GOP registration ranks in key battleground communities" has turned in more than 3,100 invalid voter registration cards during their recent drive.
Voter registration forms have allegedly been turned in with fake addresses, voter names that don't exist, duplicate Social Security numbers, and party affiliations that seem to have been changed "by someone" to Republican. The head of the firm has admitted she has hired workers with criminal backgrounds, as found via Craigslist.
The charges of serial voter registration fraud sound very similar to those leveled in 2008 against another outfit hired by the California State GOP to register Republican voters before that year's Presidential election. In that case, the head of the firm was arrested, and eventually pleaded guilty to voter registration charges himself.
In 2006, another firm hired by the CA Republican Party turned in thousands of registration forms with fake names and an error rate as high as 60 percent. And in 2004, a firm hired by the GOP was investigated in a number of states for shredding Democratic voter registrations and tossing them into dumpsters.
Despite those allegations, the same folks were later hired by the McCain/Palin campaign in 2008 to run voter registration drives before the Presidential election.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9291
East Longmeadow police looking for info in voting fraud case
Authorities looking to interview witnesses
Published : Tuesday, 14 Aug 2012,
Laura Hutchinson
EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - The investigation into alleged voting fraud in East Longmeadow continues.
East Longmeadow Police Sgt. Patrick Manley told 22News that they are working with the District Attorney’s Crime Prevention Unit to interview members of the community who may have seen something suspicious, or have information about the alleged voter fraud.
Some registered Democrats have reported receiving letters acknowledging their request for an absentee ballot to vote in the Republican primary, which they say they never asked for.
The Secretary of State’s office is now investigating.
East Longmeadow Town Clerk Tom Florence told 22News that they contacted the Secretary of State’s office when they discovered irregularities with changes to party affiliations.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/east-longmeadow-police-looking-for-info-in-voting-fraud-case
It turns out these same Republican fraudsters were trying to rig the vote in Colorado too:
The only chance the republicans have is to cheat.