An undercover video released by investigative journalist James O’Keefe showed individuals offering cash and other items in exchange for petition signatures and voter registrations in Los Angeles, California. The footage, caught by the O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) with the Citizen Justice League, shows the homeless being bribed along Skid Row.
O’Keefe explained that many of the petitioners did not appear to understand the purpose of the petitions, but signed anyway, with the circulators instructing, “Oh, you can just fake an address.”
A petitioner is later seen passing money to an individual upon signing a ballot initiative and registering to vote, a federal felony.
The Weingart Center, which receives public funding, is recorded directing individuals to the petitioners. “See they say ignorance is no excuse for the law,” an employee said. “But a lot of times, I have to say ‘I didn’t know, I had no idea.’”
One homeless individual took note of the scheme, telling the undercover journalist, “See I don’t care, I’ll turn they [removed] in, cause I don’t like that [removed].”
“Under 52 U.S.C. § 10307(c), it is a federal crime to provide false information on a voter registration form or to offer payment to complete a voter registration form,” US Attorney Bill Essayli said in response to the video’s findings. “While longstanding DOJ policy prevents me from discussing specific investigations, I want to assure the public that this DOJ, under the leadership of [Attorney General Pam Bondi], will aggressively pursue anyone and everyone involved in violating federal election laws.”
Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Governor Gavin Newsom (D), said, “This alleged activity is a felony in California. Anyone caught engaging in this activity should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Investigative journalist Nick Shirley also released a video exposing voting irregularities in California, revealing that numerous voters are registered at the same address, while others are listed as being well over 100 years old.
