Reed & Whitehouse Expect Law Enforcement to Investigate Voter Fraud

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Dan McGowan, GoLocalProv News Editor

While both state and federal authorities have been mum as to whether they are looking into voter fraud in Providence, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse said Monday they expect law enforcement agencies to investigate the claims made by Democratic Congressional candidate Anthony Gemma.

Last week, Gemma called a press conference to accuse incumbent Congressman David Cicilline of being involved in a rampant voter fraud effort dating back to his first run for Mayor of Providence in 2002. Gemma released sworn statements from five accusers who claim to have been involved with, or a victim of, voter fraud.

Cicilline’s campaign has called Gemma’s claims an “outrageous political stunt,” and many of the state’s Democratic leaders have come to Cicilline’s defense. But when asked specifically to weigh in on Gemma’s accusations, both Reed and Whitehouse deferred to law enforcement.

"Senator Reed is focused on the economy and preserving Social Security and Medicare,” said Chip Unruh, Reed’s press secretary. “He’s aware of these accusations and expects the authorities to quickly and appropriately investigate and announce their findings.”

"Senator Whitehouse has heard the accusations and trusts our law enforcement agencies to handle them appropriately," said Tony Simon, Whitehouse’s campaign manager.

The campaign for Congressman James Langevin did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Gemma commissioned TRP Associates, a private firm run by former State Troopers, to investigate Cicilline’s connection to voter fraud and claims the investigators found evidence that individuals were paid to vote multiple times, paid to impersonate actual voters, registered to vote at business addresses, abandoned buildings and vacant lots and driven in from out-of-state to vote at multiple polling places.

Gemma also claimed mail ballots and electronic voting machines have been compromised and that deceased people voted in certain elections.

“In virtually each and every instance of voter fraud document by TRP, we find David Cicilline’s closest political operatives and allies – two of who are on his Congressional staff this very day, being by you and me with our taxpayer dollars – as they orchestrate and facilitate voter fraud-related criminal acts,” Gemma said.

But Gemma has also been criticized for suggesting that Providence residents are “hiding in their attics with weapons” because they are scared of being identified as being aware of voter fraud. Gemma’s campaign took another hit Monday when it a campaign volunteer compared Cicilline to convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky on Twitter. The volunteer, Anthony Sionni, was later let go from the campaign.

“Unfortunately, we are not convinced that this statement wasn’t issued intentionally, as part of a smear campaign that Gemma has perpetuated over the past week and a half,” said Bill Fischer, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Democratic Party. “This is the latest example of reckless and irresponsible behavior from Mr. Gemma’s campaign. Last week Mr. Gemma’s sensationalistic press conference, attempting to tie Congressman Cicilline to voter fraud – failed miserably. Now this week, his campaign has resorted to comparing the congressman to Jerry Sandusky. These campaign tactics are irrational, slanderous, and hateful. It’s abundantly clear that Mr. Gemma doesn’t know where the line is. We want to assure him that he’s crossed it.”

Dan McGowan can be reached at dmcgowan@golocalprov.com. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan.

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