More Chaos In Contested Congressional Race After Republican Takes The Lead, Judge Pauses His Own Order
Over the past couple of months we’ve covered the shenanigans that have occurred in the NY22 Congressional race between Republican Claudia Tenney and Democrat Anthony Brindisi.
The race has been full of chaos, ballots have been “found” in clerks drawers, a judge said that he would pick and choose which ballots were valid and which ones weren’t. Finally a State Supreme Court Justice stepped in and called for an election audit, the results have shown that Republican candidate, Claudia Tenney is in position to win the election. However, that may be out the window because State Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte has now paused his own order for all boards of elections to certify their latest results.
Democrat Anthony Brindisi’s legal team is requesting that the entire process start all over again with a “hand audit” of the ballots.
Brindisi’s team claims: “Substantial errors and irregularities in the conduct
of the election have come to light. As these proceedings have continued, that evidence has only mounted… As a result, a hand audit is warranted under New York law and should be immediately ordered.”
DelConte hasn’t ruled out the audit, but is looking to pass the buck asserting that the arguments are going to have to be made at a higher court.
From WSYR-TV:
Judge DelConte didn’t rule on the proposed audit, instead of pausing the complete certification on the grounds that this case will likely be elevated to a higher level of court and he doesn’t want a candidate sent to Washington only to have that candidate be called back.
DelConte’s order for seven counties to finalize results Tuesday still holds, but he’s ordered Oneida County’s election commissioners to finish their work but stop just short of certification.
In Monday’s court hearings, each county board of elections did an updated canvass of ballots that were ruled either valid or invalid by Justice Scott DelConte on Friday.
Friday’s ruling was a blow to Brindisi’s hopes that batches of dozen ballots, challenged by the campaigns during the initial canvass after Election Day, would be ultimately counted.
The most recent unofficial count has given Tenney a 122 vote lead that will be difficult for Brindisi to overcome, unless he gets the court to start all over again which could happen.
Funny how it’s ok for Democrats to contest election despite being on the losing end of every court challenge, they are fighting hard though because this would give Pelosi and even thinner margin in the House.
It’s time to certify the winner of #NY22. Here’s my campaign statement on the completion of the final canvass of votes. pic.twitter.com/3Wx8AmkcKz
— Claudia Tenney (@claudiatenney) February 2, 2021
