(ProsperNews.net) – In Montana, security footage released by Fox News shows Democratic operative Laszlo Gendler allegedly tampering with an election ballot drop box, reportedly attempting to pull it off the wall. Gendler, according to OpenSecrets.org, has ties to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which is actively working to support incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Tester in his competitive race against GOP challenger Tim Sheehy.
Glacier County Election Administrator Crystal R. Cole confirmed the incident, stating that Gendler was captured on surveillance cameras on October 20 at a drop box location. Cole said Gendler claimed he had been sent by the Montana Democratic Party to “check the security” of the drop box. However, the state’s elections office had not been notified about this inspection, which made the actions appear suspicious. Following the incident, Cole reported the details to Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen’s office, and the case was subsequently handed over to Glacier County law enforcement for investigation.
Richie Melby, Communications Director for Secretary of State Jacobsen, expressed relief that Gendler did not succeed in detaching the box from the wall. However, he noted the incident as “highly suspicious and concerning,” especially given the sensitive nature of election security. The Montana Secretary of State’s office and local authorities are now working to ensure that ballot security remains intact for voters across the state.
The incident comes amid a contentious Senate race in Montana, where recent polling indicates a significant lead for Republican Tim Sheehy over incumbent Senator Tester. In a poll conducted in October by The New York Times/Siena College, Sheehy was shown leading by 52% to Tester’s 44%, marking a potential shift in this historically competitive state. Given that Republicans currently hold 49 seats in the Senate, winning the Montana seat would bring them closer to securing a Senate majority, a critical factor for upcoming legislative decisions, including any future Supreme Court confirmations.
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