David Bridges
An election employee in Maricopa County, Arizona has been arrested for allegedly stealing a digital magnetic key that can be utilized for accessing the county’s vote-counting machines. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace (MCSO) held a press convention Tuesday that was gentle on particulars however confused to the general public that they’re ready for no matter would possibly occur because the 2024 presidential election looms.
Walter Ringfield Jr., a 27-year-old from Phoenix, was working a short lived job on the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Middle (MCTEC) when somebody observed on June 20 {that a} purple lanyard containing keys and a digital fob for voting tools had gone lacking. After reviewing surveillance footage Ringfield was recognized as the one who picked up the keys round 5 p.m. native time that day, in response to a press launch from MCSO.
Screenshots from the surveillance footage have been supplied by MCSO to Gizmodo, showing to indicate Ringfield grabbing the keys.
“When confronted by his employer, Ringfield denied the theft, however then urged the lanyard is likely to be in his automotive ‘if’ he had mistakenly taken it,” MCSO defined in a press launch. “A subsequent search of his automobile revealed a purple lanyard and an identical plastic tag, however the fob remained lacking.”
Ringfield was arrested the next day at his residence, the place the arresting officers “noticed a purple plastic merchandise in keeping with the lacking lanyard inside his automobile.” MCSO alleges Ringfield admitted at that time to taking the fob.
The priority over the fob, or the “digital magnetic key” because it was later described, is that it has the potential to permit somebody to change vote tallies. Former president Donald Trump has made baseless claims that he truly received the election in 2020, claims which were litigated repeatedly in courts throughout the nation, the place no election fraud has been discovered.
County officers held up a digital key in the course of the press convention for example of what was allegedly stolen. After discovering one was lacking, election officers instantly reprogrammed all the system’s keys.
“From my understanding, the stolen digital magnetic key’s one thing that has the potential to really log into the tabulation machines at MCTEC. So you may perceive the priority and the implication that may have,” Sheriff Russ Skinner stated throughout a press convention that was livestreamed on Fb Tuesday.
No matter occurs with Ringfield, officers in Maricopa County clearly wish to give the impression that they’re on high of election safety within the lead as much as November’s election. And that is sensible, given all of the lies Trump and his goons are spreading proper now.
“Let me make this clear, MCSO and our partnership will stand vigilant and take the required actions to make sure our neighborhood, our employees, and our services stay secure and safe all through the election cycle,” Skinner stated.
Brandon Fletcher
Ethan Carter
