Ex-Utah County Clerk charged for mishandling ballots.
OAN’s Abril Elfi
10:37 AM – Saturday, November 4, 2023
Utah prosecutors have filed 8 charges against former county clerk Alaina Lofgran in connection to the mishandling and shredding of ballots from both the 2020 and 2022 elections.
On Thursday, Lofgran was charged with 8 criminal charges which include three felonies and other counts for the alleged shredding and mishandling of election ballots soon after the 2022 election as law requires them to be kept for at least 22 months after.
Prosecutors allege in charge documents filed in Utah state court Thursday that Lofgran improperly handled 2020 election votes, keeping them in a basement storage facility accessible by various county employees and plainly visible.
Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson (R-Utah.) released a statement on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying that “public trust demands accountability of those who swear oaths to fulfill their duties with fidelity and then fail to do so.”
The allegations stemmed from a 2022 lawsuit filed against Juab and seven other Utah counties in search of 2020 election records.
According to the charging document, a state judge ordered Lofgran to keep records from the 2020 election during the case.
The lawsuit was dismissed, but Lofgran appealed, resulting in a second court decision preserving the 2020 election results.
A witness allegedly saw Lofgran place 2022 ballots in a “shred bin” in a huge closet near the clerk’s office shortly after the election. The ballots had to then be removed from the shred bin for a recount, but a deputy clerk allegedly witnessed Lofgran replace them later.
Lofgran allegedly told the deputy clerk that she shredded the ballots because the election reports were done and they “don’t need them anymore.”
The former clerk allegedly told investigators that she understood she had to keep the ballots because she would be prosecuted if she didn’t, and that she was aware of the court order to save 2020 documents because of the pending lawsuit.
Investigators inspected the county offices and a basement room accessible to many county employees in March. They were allegedly unable to locate any of the 4,795 ballots cast in the 2022 general election and only a portion of the 5,932 ballots cast in the 2020 general election.
Lofgran faces felonies for deliberate neglect of duty, damaging or concealing ballots, and destroying public records, as well as misdemeanors for two charges of incorrect disposition of ballots and two counts of unofficial misconduct.
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How does the mishandling and shredding of election ballots by the former Utah County Clerk impact public accountability and trust in the electoral process?
Title: Former Utah County Clerk Charged with Mishandling and Shredding Election Ballots
Introduction
Utah prosecutors have recently filed eight charges against Alaina Lofgran, the former county clerk, for her alleged mishandling and shredding of ballots from both the 2020 and 2022 elections. Lofgran now faces criminal charges, including felonies, for her role in the improper disposal of vital election documents. This incident has raised concerns regarding the integrity and security of the electoral process, emphasizing the significance of upholding public trust in the system.
Events Leading to the Charges
On Thursday, Lofgran was formally charged with eight criminal offenses, including three felonies, related to the shredding and mishandling of election ballots shortly after the 2022 election. State laws mandate that these documents be preserved for at least 22 months following an election. The charges assert that Lofgran inappropriately dealt with the 2020 election votes, storing them in a basement facility accessible to various county employees and clearly visible.
Public Accountability
Expressing her concerns, Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson (R-Utah) stated on a social media platform that “public trust demands accountability of those who swear oaths to fulfill their duties with fidelity and then fail to do so.” Her statement highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, especially when it involves the handling of important and sensitive election materials.
Legal Proceedings
The charges against Lofgran stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2022 against Juab County and several other Utah counties to obtain the 2020 election records. During the case, a state judge ordered Lofgran to preserve the 2020 election documents. Although the lawsuit was eventually dismissed, Lofgran appealed the decision, resulting in a second court order to retain the 2020 election results.
Witness Testimony and Allegations
According to witness testimony, Lofgran allegedly placed 2022 ballots in a shred bin in a large closet close to the clerk’s office soon after the election. These ballots had to be removed from the bin for a recount, but a deputy clerk reportedly observed Lofgran later replacing them. Lofgran justified her actions by claiming that the election reports were completed and the ballots were no longer needed. However, she allegedly informed investigators that she understood the obligation to retain the ballots and was aware of the court order due to the pending lawsuit.
Investigation and Missing Ballots
Following these allegations, investigators examined the county offices and a basement room accessible to numerous county employees in March. However, they were unable to locate any of the 4,795 ballots cast in
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