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Q&A
BOE's response to ongoing investigations of poll worker practices
4:13:49
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171 sec
BOE representatives explain their approach to the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in poll worker recruitment. They discuss their reasons for not conducting an immediate internal review.
- BOE was aware of an ongoing investigation by the Department of Investigation and federal prosecutors
- They chose not to interfere with the law enforcement investigation by conducting their own review
- The indictment of a low-level employee suggested to them that the investigation might be targeting higher-level individuals
Michael Ryan
4:13:49
So the the short answer to that question is no.
4:13:52
However, that wasn't without thought.
4:13:55
We knew that there was an ongoing investigation.
4:13:58
If we were confident that the investigation was terminated with the identification of this one individual, we would have, taken more proactive steps.
4:14:09
And now that this is coming to an end, that is exactly what we what we will do.
Lincoln Restler
4:14:14
And who's invest who's been leading this investigation?
Michael Ryan
4:14:16
Well, the only investigating entity that we were aware of, we were contacted, I believe my memory serves me that it was last June, by the Department of Investigation, but this is a federal indictment.
4:14:29
And And and and so by the way, when I contacted the federal prosecutors in the Southern District, about this when it first came to light, I got a callback later that day and said that they could offer me no more information, with respect to that matter, and that was back last August.
4:14:51
So we thought that the best thing to do in the moment was take a little bit of a hands off approach so that we were not interfering, with a law enforcement, investigation.
Lincoln Restler
4:15:02
But when was the indictment filed?
4:15:04
August.
4:15:05
August.
4:15:06
So I just mean to say we are seven months later and you haven't looked into whether this is a broader issue that we need to worry about because you're, I guess, waiting for this to more fully run its course.
4:15:22
I I just don't understand that decision.
4:15:25
So I
Michael Ryan
4:15:26
would say this.
4:15:27
If if the individual employee was someone, that I would consider to be, the top of of a food chain, I might not have been as reticent to, to to, to dive in.
4:15:42
But she's a relatively she was definitely a low level employee as far as we're concerned.
4:15:47
And my prior experience in my law enforcement background tells me that if there if an investigation is starting in the public, commentary is with respect to somebody at a lower level, that there might be somebody higher up the food chain, involved.
4:16:06
And so Yeah.
Lincoln Restler
4:16:07
I I understand.
4:16:08
I hear you on all of that.
4:16:09
I guess what I worry about is the here and now of poll workers operating in elections and having to pay bribes to get those jobs and that happening in real time and us waiting for years Right.
4:16:25
Before we do anything.
Michael Ryan
4:16:26
Well, under under those circumstances, we felt it was best to rely on those individuals that get paid to do those investigations.
4:16:35
The Department of Investigation and the federal prosecutor's office said, and and I suppose