Four Broward Recounts Approved Amid Mystery Box Controversy; Elections Supervisor Under Fire
ZeroHedge.com
Update: Broward County has reportedly approved recounts in four Florida races, according to CNN. As a noon deadline on Saturday to submit the election results approached, former GOP Rep. Ron DeSantis led Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by less than 5%, which would require a machine recount.
In the race for Senate, Gov. Rick Scott’s lead over Democratic incumbant Bill Nelson had shrunk to less than .25 percent – which would require a hand recount of all ballots unable to be tabulated by machine.
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After a Florida Judge ordered Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes to allow for the immediate inspection of tens of thousands of ballots suddenly found after Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson lost to Republican Gov. Rick Scott, Snipes failed to abide by a 7 PM deadline set at the emergency hearing. Instead, workers were filmed by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) shuffling boxes into a truck, before he was forcibly removed by a police officer.
BREAKING: I took this video as the riot police removed me from where trucks were secretly loading stuff in/out of Broward Supervisors office. All this while they are violating constitutional rights & a court order! #BrowardCounty pic.twitter.com/DbxyKRde4f
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 10, 2018
Earlier:
Andrew Pollack recorded this video today at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office where ballots are being counted.
The video shows multiple big box trucks pulling up to the building's loading dock.
What is being shipped in or out of the facility? Why? pic.twitter.com/lMvHRyQBRT
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 10, 2018
The scene was reminiscent of election night, when Broward County election officials were seen shuffling mystery boxes into a rented truck.
Caught On Video: Concerned citizen sees ballots being transported in private vehicles & transferred to rented truck on Election night. This violates all chain of custody requirements for paper ballots. Were the ballots destroyed & replaced by set of fake ballots? Investigate now! pic.twitter.com/GUPZnz7Gny
— Tim Canova (@Tim_Canova) November 8, 2018
Gaetz vowed earlier to hold Snipes in contempt for missing the 7PM deadline.
The court was asked to intervene in a tight race for US Senate between Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott, after tens of thousands of ballots mysteriously appeared in Broward County, and another 15,000 in Palm Beach.
Lawyers for Snipes have argued that such a quick response would interfere with the count, while Rep. Bill Nelson has accused Republicans of trying to deny him a seat which he believes he will keep once all the votes are counted.
Republicans have conversely accused Democrats of trying to steal the election.
You mean they are just now finding votes in Florida and Georgia – but the Election was on Tuesday? Let’s blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018
Who is Brenda Snipes?
Snipes has a sordid history in her 15-years on the job. In May 2018 a judge ruled that she violated federal and state laws by destroying ballots in a 2016 Congressional race in Tim Canova’s bid to unseat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the Democratic primary race.
In August, 2018 a Judge ordered Snipes to stop opening mail-in ballots in secret.
In 2016, Snipes’ office “accidentally” posted the results of an election 30 minutes beforepolls closed at 7 p.m., which was blamed on a private contractor.
More:
5. She was sued for leaving amendments off of ballots https://t.co/j2MPXjBVYV
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 10, 2018
We’re talking about Brenda Snipes who has been dishonest in the destruction of our ballots & counting votes outside the canvassing board? Both are illegal and anti-Demicratic! http://t.co/ofEzFgFT2L
— Tim Canova (@Tim_Canova) November 10, 2018
Rep. Gaetz, meanwhile, is being called a racist for trying to figure out what exactly is going on in Broward County.
Now everyone who doesn’t want voter fraud is a racist. Guys, this race-baiting strategy failed in the elections. Give it up already. https://t.co/OpI0VwPDUl
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 10, 2018