Current:Home > ScamsJudge drops felony charges against ex-elections official in Virginia-LoTradeCoin
Judge drops felony charges against ex-elections official in Virginia
View Date:2024-12-23 19:48:08
MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge has dismissed felony charges against a former county elections official accused of misconduct in the 2020 election, a decision made after state prosecutors said a key witness changed his story.
At the prosecutors’ request, the judge on Friday dismissed a felony charge of corrupt conduct and one for making a false statement, both of which had been levied against former Prince William County Registrar Michele White. She still faces trial next month on a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty.
Very little has been publicly revealed about exactly what prosecutors believe White did wrong. Court records merely indicate that the case revolves around 2020 election returns, including the presidential race.
Prince William election officials have previously said that White’s successor reported “discrepancies” in results to state officials, but that those discrepancies would not have affected the outcome of any race.
The case was brought by Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares last year. Shortly after his office obtained the indictment against White, it launched an election integrity unit. The move prompted critics to accuse Miyares of pandering to supporters of former President Donald Trump, who falsely blamed his defeat on election fraud.
In White’s case, Assistant Attorney General James Herring filed a motion ahead of Friday’s hearing in which he alleged that an elections worker “conveniently and quite surprisingly provided a different version of events” than the witness had previously recounted.
“As a consequence, the Commonwealth is confronted with significant inconsistent statements,” Herring wrote.
White’s lawyer, Zachary Stafford, said he interviewed the same witness and found nothing inconsistent in his statements. The election worker, “rather filled in a hole that the initial investigation did not address” about who asked him to make changes in the state voter registration system, Stafford said in a statement. The system is being replaced after an audit questioned its reliability and functionality.
Stafford said the witness has reported that White didn’t ask him to make the changes now under scrutiny and that it was “a poor choice of words” for prosecutors to refer to the witness’ updated testimony as “convenient.”
Attorney General Miyares’ office declined to comment beyond the court filing, citing the ongoing misdemeanor case.
veryGood! (39134)
Related
- USMNT Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal Leg 1 vs. Jamaica: Live stream and TV, rosters
- Martin Lawrence Shares Rare Insight on Daughter's Romance With Eddie Murphy's Son
- Women lawmakers take the lead in shaping policy in Nebraska. Advocates hope other states follow.
- Get a $48.98 Deal on a $125 Perricone MD Serum That’s Like an Eye Lift in a Bottle
- How to protect your Social Security number from the Dark Web
- 'Face the music': North Carolina man accused of $10 million AI-aided streaming fraud
- Ravens vs. Chiefs kickoff delayed due to lightning in Arrowhead Stadium area
- Video shows flood waters gush into Smithtown Library, damage priceless artifacts: Watch
- Georgia State University is planning a $107M remake of downtown Atlanta
- 'Joker 2' is 'startlingly dull' and Lady Gaga is 'drastically underused,' critics say
Ranking
- Elon Musk says 'SNL' is 'so mad' Trump won as he slams Dana Carvey's impression
- More extreme heat plus more people equals danger in these California cities
- Physician sentenced to 9 months in prison for punching police officer during Capitol riot
- Reese Witherspoon Spending Time With Financier Oliver Haarmann Over a Year After Jim Toth Divorce
- John Krasinski named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024
- Before Hunter Biden’s guilty plea, he wanted to enter an Alford plea. What is it?
- Would Dolly Parton Ever Host a Cooking Show? She Says...
- Investigators will test DNA found on a wipe removed from a care home choking victim’s throat
Recommendation
-
Over 1.4 million Honda, Acura vehicles subject of US probe over potential engine failure
-
Ronaldo on scoring his 900th career goal: ‘It was emotional’
-
Abortion rights questions are on ballots in 9 states. Will they tilt elections?
-
Suspect charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a deputy in Houston
-
‘Emilia Pérez’ wouldn’t work without Karla Sofía Gascón. Now, she could make trans history
-
Before Hunter Biden’s guilty plea, he wanted to enter an Alford plea. What is it?
-
Physician sentenced to 9 months in prison for punching police officer during Capitol riot
-
Michael Keaton Isn't Alone: Gigi Hadid, Tina Fey and Tom Cruise's Real Names Revealed