Department of Justice Investigates Voter Fraud in Michigan
The U.S. Department of Justice is looking into allegations of voter fraud in Wayne County, Michigan. Harmeet Dhillon, the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, highlighted instances of voter fraud and breaches of the Help America Vote Act during a recent discussion.
A notable case involves a woman from California who has been charged for allegedly paying individuals, including those experiencing homelessness on Skid Row in Los Angeles, to register to vote. This came to light through federal prosecutors.
“False registration undermines the American public’s trust in elections, particularly when money is involved,” Dhillon stated in a press release. “The Department is dedicated to maintaining fairness and protecting elections from unlawful activities so all Americans can trust the outcomes,” she continued.
Brenda Lee Armstrong, 64, also known as “Annika,” faces a felony charge. She reportedly collected signatures for voting initiatives, often compensating individuals between $2 and $3. Armstrong was charged specifically with paying someone to register to vote and has agreed to plead guilty. She made her initial court appearance recently.
Armstrong operated as a “petition circulator” for around 20 years, receiving payments for each legitimate voter signature. The compensation she received varied based on the specific voting activity involved. Many homeless individuals in Skid Row weren’t registered, prompting Armstrong to distribute voter registration forms and offer payments for completion.
In some instances, prosecutors claim she provided former addresses of these individuals to fill out registration forms, successfully registering them for both state and federal elections.
Some ballots might have been mailed to Armstrong’s former home, even though the individuals listed may not live there anymore. Facing a felony charge for these actions, Armstrong could potentially face five years in federal prison if convicted.
Investigative journalist James O’Keefe has spoken out against the indictment, citing footage obtained by the O’Keefe Media Group, which documented the alleged activities on Skid Row. California’s Secretary of State has stated that homeless individuals can register to vote, provided they have a location to collect their mail and are assigned to a voting precinct. Additional comments were sought from the offices of the state governor and attorney general regarding this situation.
