Connecticut's GOP leader asked the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday to begin an investigation into election fraud allegations in Bridgeport after a raised eyebrow comment from one of the accused concerns about a systematic scandal within the state.
Republicans in the Connecticut state legislature have written to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi after Bridgeport City Council member Alfredo Castillo claimed that only an order from a Democrat leader had “complied” to get the vote because he denied fraud in connection with the city's allegations of fraud in the 2023 mayoral election.
“I'm innocent” Castillo It is only communicated at bridge ports After his arrest on February 21st. “I'm following the Democrat's orders. This is to say they're going to tell us and get the vote. Then it gets criminalized.”
A few days after these comments, Connecticut Rep. Vincent Candelora, like the Republican lawmaker in the comments, wrote to the DOJ a letter requesting an investigation.
“Councillor Castillo's own words suggest a broader operation, including efforts to benefit famous Democratic candidates at the state and federal levels,” Candelora said of the investigation. During a press conference on Friday.
“We cannot ignore the possibility that these corrupt practices will expand beyond bridge ports.”
Castillo was one of five local political operatives who were criminally charged with mistakenly voting absentee ballots in the 2023 Bridgeport Democratic primary between Mayor Joe Ganim and Challenger John Gomez.
Ganim was declared the winner when absentee votes rolled in after Gomez won the most votes on the ballot, the Supreme State Lawyer's Office said This month, when I announced my criminal lawsuit.
After Gomez allegedly claiming voter fraud, the judge ordered a new election, but Ganim won again.
Castillo, 53; Maria Pereira, 57; and Jazzmarie Melendez, 26, said that Wanda Getter Putaki, 68, vice-chairman of the city's Democratic town committee, faces 92 charges, including a conspiracy to own multiple absentee ballots, a trio of city council members faces charges.
Margaret Joyce, 45, is also charged, who is said to be part of the absentee voting plan.
Claims implemented include registering to those who should vote for absentee voters by filling out and submitting a vote for other voters and registering to register non-citizens.
In an interview with Bridgeport only, Castillo lamented that he was “offended and frustrated” to face criminal charges, claiming that “If you don't vote, Ganim will lose.”
When he responded to allegations that he had registered a non-citizen to vote, he said, “How should I know? She gave me a Social Security number.”
“How loyal do you want us to be? We will receive the vote and become criminalized,” he said.
“Now we have to pay lawyers. I have a wife and a child who are afraid to go to prison. The party should have lawyers representing us.”
Constitutional GOP officials want to know if similar fraud is occurring in other parts of the state.
“Such investigations are important to restore public confidence in the electoral system, which has been severely damaged by the Bridgeport scandal,” the letter said.
The five defendants either deny the misconduct or remained mothers on the charges.
