An investigation is underway into alleged voter fraud by Monroe County GOP Chairman Treasurer

An investigation into Monroe’s Republican Party chairmanship is underway Rhonda Rebman Lopez and Treasurer Sherri Hodies violated state law by supporting Hodies’ Supervisor of Elections campaign and donating $20,000 without sufficient support from party members.

Governor Ron DeSantis authorized state prosecutor Amira Fox 20th Judicial District to conduct an investigation on Friday executive order. He appointed Fox to investigate allegations of voter fraud and illegal spending, which could have serious consequences for the Nov. 5 election and party leadership in the district.

Lopez called the allegations “frivolous” and part of “a tactic by desperate Democrats to interfere in Monroe’s election” despite a lack of noticeable involvement from members of the Democratic Party.

Hodies stated that she only accepted the endorsement and donation after receiving approval from the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Evan Powerwho denied any involvement in the case.

The Citizen of Key West The investigation was first reported on Thursday.

At issue is the April 20 vote by the Monroe Republican Executive Committee (REC), followed by Hodies’ support for her main opponent, Małgorzata Romeroand whether enough panel members supported the move.

After months of arguments, Republican Phillis May He filed a complaint July 26 with the Monroe County State’s Attorney Dennis Wardwho resigned as he is also a member of REC and was present at the meeting in question.

Ward’s Chief Assistant, Joseph MansfieldOn Aug. 2, he sent DeSantis a letter requesting that another state attorney be appointed to investigate the complaint “to avoid any appearance of impropriety.”

Fox agreed to the assignment.

May wasn’t the only one to question the support and donations. Pursuant to Art. 8 section statuteRPOF allows local RECs to endorse candidates in contested primary races if a majority of their total members vote to do so.

But in an email received by a Key West citizen, a member of REC Patrick Foley he claimed that nowhere near that share did he agree to endorse and donate to Hodies.

“The full committee has 63 members, a majority of the full committee is 31.5 members,” he wrote. “The vote in favor of the motion for support was as follows: 20 people were in favor, 18 were against. Support requires 31.5 votes. The motion failed.”

May wrote in her complaint that there was no public confirmation that REC received the minimum number of votes required to support Hodies. Lopez told the Key West Citizen that this is because REC members are not allowed to reveal what they discuss or vote on at meetings.

May wrote that this opacity, coupled with claims that the EC had breached state party rules, called for an investigation.

“The chairman and treasurer of the executive committee of any political party should be responsible for the funds of such committee,” she wrote. “If there was no valid vote that met the requirements to support Ms. Hodies and her associated $20,000 contribution, who approved and/or made the decision to reduce the check?”

May referred to the section Florida Statutes governing the powers and duties of Executive Committees, which states that political party funds may not be spent or donated without the written consent of its chairman or district Executive Committee.

The law states that any chairman or treasurer who knowingly embezzles, misspends, or makes an improper accounting of party funds commits a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Lopez told Florida Politics late Thursday evening that more REC members were present at the April 20 meeting, but they abstained from voting to support Hodies. She said their attendance at the meeting was counted in the vote count even though they did not vote.

Hodies told the Key West Citizen that she has completed the paperwork to obtain REC’s endorsement and input. However, after hearing that “some members were not happy with the vote”, she stated that she refused to donate and support until RPOF approved.

“The president and executive director of RPOF told me that the process and vote had been approved,” Key West Citizen quoted her as saying. “RPOF advised (Lopez) to cut the check and endorse me. I followed the process and all the rules.”

On Thursday afternoon, Power told Florida Politics: “I’m not getting involved in the primary or telling any REC how to operate.”

Hodies won the August primary with approximately 60% of the votes. He is competing against the former leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives in the general election Ron Saunders for the right to succeed the Democratic Inspector Joyce GriffinWho confirmed in February 2022 would not seek re-election to the seat she first won in 2012. Griffin, a Democrat who won unopposed re-election in 2020, cited “stupid” election laws adopted in recent years by state legislators that make it difficult to vote by mail as the reason I won’t run again.

On Wednesday, Lopez released a lengthy statement blaming Democrats for the ordeal, even though May, Fox and Ward are Republicans. Ward is a former Democrat. So he changed the party after losing the 2012 elections I got it back four years later, he took office as state’s attorney as a Republican.

Lopez called the charges against her and Hodies “desperate, baseless attacks” that “have no merit and will be quickly dismissed” and compared the scrutiny she is facing to investigations into America’s most notorious election denier, former president Donald Trump.

“These Democrats are trying to get Sherri Hodies off the ballot the same way they are trying to get Trump off the ballot,” she said. “Their goal is clear – they want to control our choices and will stop at nothing to achieve it.”

The general election will be held on November 5.

___

This report has been updated to add that DeSantis authorized but did not order the investigation; that May is a Republican but not a member of the Monroe County REC; and Lopez’s clarification that REC members abstaining from voting on April 20 still count towards the vote total.

Post views: 0