GOP lawmakers threaten forcible entry into Durham elections office - WRAL.com

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By Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief, & Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Raleigh, N.C. — A group of Republican House members announced Thursday that they are launching a fraud investigation into North Carolina elections and said they would start by inspecting voting machines in Durham County, with or without the cooperation of state or county election officials.

Rep. Jeff McNeely, R-Iredell, conducted a "random drawing" of a county name out of a hat, and Durham County was chosen. Perhaps coincidentally, Republicans have accused Durham County of voter fraud in the past, especially in 2016, when a late vote tally there swung the governor's race in favor of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper over then-incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.

Citing "many, many millions of accusations" of "machine tampering and votes being switched because of modems," McNeely said at a news conference that lawmakers intend to see for themselves whether the machines have modems in them.

Voting machines in North Carolina do not have modems and are not connected to the internet, by state law.

"We look forward to working with them, proving that our elections were true and were valid and there was nothing wrong with them. If that's not the case, then we look to do an investigation, and if there needs to be criminal charges, they will be filed," McNeely told reporters.

"We will also be accommodated and assisted by the [General Assembly] police in our investigation, and they will be the ones that will help us go and find any evidence and help us secure it," he added.

McNeely brandished a roll of red evidence tape that he said would ensure voting machines at the Durham County Board of Elections office could be secured "so that nothing could go forward from here," until his group can conduct an inspection with a technician from the voting machine manufacturer.

The effort appears to mimic "audits" by Republicans in other states, notably Arizona, to cast doubt on the outcome of the 2020 election and election integrity in general.

Asked whether they believe President Joe Biden was duly elected, McNeely and Rep. Bobby Hanig, R-Dare, said they didn't know. Rep. Larry Pittman, R-Cabarrus, said no.

State elections director Karen Brinson Bell has repeatedly told the House Freedom Caucus that no unauthorized person, least of all elected officials, is allowed to "inspect" voting machines.

Asked if that's changed, McNeely said he believes state law gives them that authority.

"So, we will start with that," he said, "and if we have to use, like I said, our escorts and the [General Assembly] police to help us, we will do whatever it takes to go about our mission."

Rep. Zack Hawkins, D-Durham, criticized the effort on the House floor Thursday, calling it "a slap" to suggest Durham County's elections aren't on the level.

"The people in Durham County take elections very seriously," Hawkins said. "You are not welcome in Durham County, and I'm not sure if you want to step foot in Durham County and try to inspect the machines. You will not be greeted as liberators, let me be clear.”

McNeely responded by saying that he would think every county would welcome an inspection to demonstrate their election integrity.

“I would hope that we would have an open door, and I would hope that any representative from the county chosen would gladly join us to prove that they are what they say they are – and that is a true county of true elections," he said.

House Speaker Tim Moore then cut off further comments on the issue, saying the chamber was scheduled to debate an elections bill next Tuesday.

General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock didn't immediately respond to an inquiry from WRAL News about his agency's participation in McNeely's probe.

Moore's office referred questions about how General Assembly police could be used to Legislative Services Officer Paul Coble, who oversees day-to-day operations and staff at the statehouse.

Coble said lawmakers can't requisition officers, but they can request them, and McNeely hadn't submitted a request. Coble was reticent to get into the details of what officers can and can't do, given the hypothetical nature of McNeely's visit to the Durham County Board of Elections.

But he stressed, repeatedly, that the General Assembly ​Police Department exists to protect lawmakers. Officers often travel with legislators, including during the recent public hearings around the state on redistricting.

Durham County is currently in its canvass period after Tuesday's primary election for Durham mayor and City Council, and early voting for the runoff begins Oct. 12.

In a statement, Durham County Elections Director Derek Bowens said the inspection would not be allowed: "No one will be permitted to inspect voting equipment in Durham County, as per statute and direction from the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections."

Brinson Bell echoed that in a response of her own, adding that the Durham election cannot be disrupted.

"Unauthorized individuals who are not elections professionals have no authority to open and inspect voting equipment," she said.

"It is extremely disheartening when elected officials do not trust the process that elected them, nor the thousands of bipartisan election officials and poll workers who ensure North Carolina’s elections are fair and secure," she added. "The state board has received no credible evidence that the certified results are not accurate, and elected officials from both sides of the aisle have stated that the 2020 general election in North Carolina was conducted fairly.

"As documented in publications across the country, this type of stunt puts the safety of election officials at risk," she concluded.

After talking with Bowens over the phone, McNeely told WRAL News he now intends to go to Durham to "see for himself" that the machines are "safely locked up and secure" but would defer his inspection until after the runoff election next month.

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