ToplineRepublican county officials from Pennsylvania's Tioga County asked Tuesday for the Republican state senator who was leading an expensive election audit to stop it and allow them to get back to work. State Sen. Doug Mastriano is intensifying his efforts to subpoena election materials and voting machines.Pennsylvania state senator Doug Mastriano speaks with supporters of President Donald Trump at the... [+] Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg. ASSOCIATED PRSThe Key FactsMastriano requested that Tioga, York, and Philadelphia counties hand over election materials, including ballots, voting machines, to him for inspection as part of a criminal investigation into the 2020 election. However, all three counties declined to participate in the investigation. According to Reuters, the three Tioga County commissioners are all Republicans. They read a statement Tuesday at a board meeting asking Mastriano not to make his demands and for responsible Republicans to get back to work on other issues, such as Covid-19 or the opioid crisis. The county commissioners denounced Mastrianos' audit as a mistake made without the authorization of his committee or Senate. They also said that Mastriano started his quest with a false accusation, that those counties who decline to take part in his investigation had something to hide. After Veronica Degraffenreid, Pennsylvania Acting Secretary-of-State, issued a directive to counties telling them not to cooperate with the probe. She stated that any county that gives their voting equipment to a third party would have their machines decertified. Mastriano was sent a letter on July 29 by Christopher P. Gabriel, Tioga County attorney. Forbes viewed it. Gabriel stated that the county would cooperate in his investigation if Mastriano gave sufficient funds for the county to replace its voting equipment for the fall election. Forbes received no response Tuesday. Mastrianos has yet to respond to a request for comment.Important QuoteWhile a thoughtful process in which other Republican senators worked together for counties to have access to election information might have been possible, Senator Mastriano probably squandered that opportunity by acting alone with no support from his committee or from the Senate. It happens again.What to WatchMastriano stated to Newsmax that he expects to issue subpoenas against Tioga County, and the other two county for their election materials within the next two week. This was after the counties failed to provide materials by the July 31 deadline. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that no public notice was filed to allow for a vote on subpoenas, and that party leadership has not supported the motion. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro indicated that he will fight any subpoenas at court.Big Number74.7% This is the percentage of Tioga County voters who voted in support of former President Donald Trump in 2020.Important BackgroundIn July, Mastriano asked for election materials from Tioga County, York County and Philadelphia counties to help him launch his own forensic investigation into the controversy surrounding the privately funded recount in Maricopa County. York County, which, like Tioga County, voted for Donald Trump, requested election materials in July in an effort to launch his own forensic investigation in line with the controversial privately funded recount in Maricopa County, Arizona. Mastriano stated that he will use his probe to inspect materials such as ballots and voting devices for any suspected irregularities. This is despite the fact that it would not alter the state's election results. However, critics fear that it could cause further distrust in the count.TangentPennsylvania's audit is part a larger GOP-led push to partisan election audits nationally as Arizona's controversial audit gained traction with far right. Janel Brandtjen, Wisconsin state representative, issued subpoenas Friday to obtain election materials from two counties despite ongoing investigations.Continue readingPennsylvania County asks Senator to Stop Trying to Audit Vote (Associated Press).Pennsylvania Audit Pushback Increases as GOP County Refuses to Turn Over Election Materials (Forbes).Trump Won States and Counties Reject Calls to Launch Their Own Arizona-Styled Election Audits (Forbes).Pennsylvania Destroys County Voting Machines after a Partisan Election Audit Compromises Them (Forbes).Pennsylvania Conducts an Arizona-Style Election Audit as Lawmaker Requires Counties to Return Voting Equipment (Forbes).
