BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A metropolis councilor in Connecticut was arrested Friday on 10 further counts in reference to an investigation into absentee ballot tampering within the state’s largest metropolis, officers mentioned.
Bridgeport Metropolis Council member Alfredo Castillo was amongst five Democratic politicians and operatives charged earlier this yr with tampering with absentee ballots within the 2023 Democratic major election. Claims of misuse of the ballots spurred a court-ordered rerun of a mayoral major and basic election and helped fuel skepticism in regards to the safety of U.S. elections.
The brand new counts in opposition to Castillo embrace a number of counts of possession of restricted ballots and envelopes, failure to signal as assister on an absentee poll and misrepresenting eligibility necessities for voting by absentee poll, Chief State’s Lawyer Patrick Griffin’s workplace mentioned.
Castillo didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail in search of remark. His lawyer, Frank Riccio, mentioned he’ll “research the proof the State claims it has and decide if their case holds water.”
Police have mentioned that within the run-up to the 2023 major, surveillance movies confirmed individuals on a number of events stuffing what seemed to be a number of absentee ballots into metropolis assortment packing containers.
Castillo and different defendants have additionally been accused of illegally serving to voters fill out ballots and telling them who to vote for, in response to arrest warrants.
Castillo was beforehand charged with similar absentee ballot crimes related to the 2019 election.
Griffin’s workplace mentioned Castillo was launched Friday with a promise to seem in Bridgeport Superior Court docket on Sept. 2.
