McCrae Dowless arrested amid absentee ballot investigation in 9th District congressional race
RALEIGH -- Leslie McCrae Dowless, the political operative at the center of a ballot fraud scandal in Bladen County, was arrested Wednesday on criminal charges over activities in the 2016 elections and the Republican primary in 2018.
The indictments were made public Wednesday, following the arrest of Dowless.
Dowless faces charges of three counts felonious obstruction of justice, two counts of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and two counts of possession of absentee ballots.
According to testimony and other findings detailed at an election board hearing last week, Dowless conducted an illegal "ballot harvesting" operation. He and his assistants are accused of gathering up absentee ballots from voters by offering to put them in the mail.
He was working on behalf of Republican candidate Mark Harris, who had a slim lead in the vote count before the investigation.
Others charged include Caitlyn E. Croom, Matthew Monroe Mathis, Tonia Gordon and Rebecca Thompson. Each faces one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one count of possession of absentee ballot. Mathis further faces charges of falsely signing the voter certification on an absentee ballot.
Last week, the State Board of Elections ordered a new election in the 9th District.
Mark Harris announced this week that he will not run in that election, citing his health. He was hospitalized last month by a blood infection and said he suffered two strokes. He said he needs surgery late next month.
Dan McCready has announced that he will again run for the 9th district office.
Read the full indictment below:
The investigation into the alleged ballot scheme continues.
This is a developing story. ABC11 will update.
