Republican Indiana official charged with stealing election ballots

A Republican predetermination authoritative who antecedently ran for Congress is accused of trying to bargain other ballots successful Indiana, authorities said.

Larry Savage, 51, was arrested Tuesday successful Madison County. His actions were captured connected surveillance video, according to police, but Savage inactive claimed helium was innocent.

Savage attended a nationalist trial of voting machines successful his region connected Oct. 3 arsenic a precinct committeeman. There, officials passed retired illustration ballots to tally done the machines to beryllium they worked, the Indianapolis Star reported. Though the ballots were “test” oregon “sample” ballots, they could beryllium utilized successful existent elections.

“They are unrecorded ballots. They are unrecorded predetermination ballots,” the pistillate moving the lawsuit said. The ballots besides read, “IT IS A CRIME TO FALSIFY THIS BALLOT OR VIOLATE INDIANA ELECTION LAWS,” according to section Fox affiliate WXIN.

Cops said Savage snagged 2 of the ballots, folded them up and enactment them successful his pocket, according to the Indy Star. One was a consecutive Republican ballot, portion the different was blank.

Indiana State Police recovered the ballots successful Savage’s car connected the evening of Oct. 3 aft predetermination officials realized multiple ballots were missing from the test, section TV presumption WISH reported.

Despite the plethora of disposable information, Savage claimed successful interviews with constabulary that helium thought helium could locomotion retired with the ballots, according to the Indy Star.

Savage was charged with theft and destroying oregon misplacing a ballot. He posted $500 bail and was released Tuesday. If convicted, helium faces up to 2 years successful prison.

Savage antecedently ran successful the Republican superior for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, losing to incumbent Victoria Spartz.