Five individuals, including several influential Democratic figures, were taken into custody on Friday following allegations of manipulating absentee ballots during a 2023 local election in Bridgeport, Connecticut. These allegations have raised concerns about the integrity of voting processes in the United States and even prompted a court-mandated new election for the mayoral position.
The accusations against these defendants primarily revolve around the illegal handling of absentee ballots, unauthorized presence during voting, and misleading guidance regarding absentee ballot regulations. Complaints filed earlier with state election authorities indicated instances where voters may have felt pressured to select specific candidates when casting their votes.
The individuals arrested include Wanda Geter-Pataky, the Vice Chair of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee, along with City Council members Alfredo Castillo, Maria Pereira, and Jazmarie Melendez. A fifth person from Stratford was also apprehended, although her details are not publicly available, and it remains unclear if she is represented by an attorney.
Notably, Geter-Pataky and Castillo faced similar accusations related to absentee ballot misconduct during the 2019 elections. In the recent 2023 elections, surveillance footage appeared to show individuals placing multiple absentee ballots into collection boxes, a claim made by John Gomes, a Democratic mayoral candidate who narrowly lost the primary to Joe Ganim, the incumbent.
During a court session in late 2023 that addressed these ballot tampering allegations, two supporters of Ganim, including Geter-Pataky, invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and chose not to respond to inquiries. Ganim has publicly denied any knowledge of any illicit activities.
The release of this footage, shared by Gomes, contributed to a growing public skepticism surrounding election security in America. It further fueled narratives on far-right social media platforms, linking the Bridgeport situation to claims of widespread voting fraud from previous elections.
In response to the events, Gomes contested the results of the 2023 primary, leading a state judge to order a repeat primary and subsequent general election, which Ganim ultimately won again.
None of the four initially arrested individuals returned messages after their apprehension on Friday. Geter-Pataky’s attorney, John R. Gulash, stated he was not aware of the arrest warrant and refrained from commenting further. Meanwhile, Castillo’s lawyer, Frank Riccio II, indicated that Castillo intends to plead not guilty. Pereira’s lawyer, Robert Frost, declined to provide any statements.
Melendez’s attorney, Alexander Taubes, issued a statement asserting that Melendez “categorically denies the baseless allegations” and suggested that the charges are a form of “political retribution.”
Upon turning themselves in at the Bridgeport state police barracks, Geter-Pataky chose not to comment on the allegations. Pereira expressed confidence in her case, stating she would prevail but did not elaborate on the specifics of the claims against her.
The five suspects were subsequently released on assurances to appear in court in Bridgeport on March 6. Geter-Pataky faces an extensive list of charges, including 42 counts of illegal possession of ballots and envelopes, two counts of fraudulent voting, and 22 counts of misrepresenting voter eligibility for absentee ballots. The other arrested individuals face similar charges but with fewer counts than those levied against Geter-Pataky.
Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin expressed hope that these prosecutions will deter future election tampering in Connecticut.
Previously, in relation to the 2019 elections, Geter-Pataky, Castillo, and two campaign aides were indicted for unlawfully possessing absentee ballots and committing other election law violations. They are accused of exploiting the absentee ballot process during a primary election where Ganim narrowly defeated state Senator Marilyn Moore by merely 270 votes.
Prosecutors assert that some defendants confused voters regarding absentee ballot eligibility, instructed individuals on whom to vote for, were improperly present at the time votes were cast, and breached regulations regarding the management of absentee ballot applications and ballots themselves. Those legal proceedings remain ongoing in court.
Joe Ganim, who initially became mayor in 1991, previously resigned from the position after being convicted for corruption, including racketeering and extortion, leading to a seven-year prison sentence. He was re-elected to his former role in 2015 and won subsequent elections in 2019 and 2023.
