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4 Connecticut Democratic operatives charged in absentee ballot misuse investigation

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4 Connecticut Democratic operatives charged in absentee ballot misuse investigation

Four Connecticut Democratic operatives were charged this week with election-related offenses, including one woman who had been previously scrutinized over alleged “ballot stuffing” in a Bridgeport mayoral primary.

Two campaign workers, along with Bridgeport City Councilmember Alfredo Castillo and Democratic Town Committee Vice Chair Wanda Geter-Pataky, were charged with unlawful possession of absentee ballots, among other offenses, according to multiple reports.

Geter-Pataky was in-part accused of failing to sign as an “assister” on an absentee ballot application she had filled out on behalf of a prospective voter, according to an official statement on the case.

Castillo was accused of misrepresenting eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot and failing to sign as an assister, among other allegations.

CONNECTICUT MAYOR DENIES DISCUSSIONS WITH SUSPECTED BALLOT-STUFFER

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Three of the individuals, including Geter-Pataky and Castillo, were supporters of Mayor Joseph Ganim’s 2019 re-election, while the fourth supported Ganim’s primary opponent, Marilyn Moore, according to the Connecticut Post.

Ganim, who leads the state’s largest city, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the alleged behavior of the supporters.

The four defendants are scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 24. 

A state judge previously overturned the 2023 Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport over allegations of absentee ballot fraud. Only 251 votes separated Ganim from his then-challenger John Gomes. 

Judge William Clark ordered a new election be held after Geter-Pataky and another individual were purportedly seen on CCTV video making multiple trips to insert a large number of absentee ballots into drop boxes.

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JUDGE ORDERS NEW PRIMARY ELECTION AFTER SEEING VIDEO SHOWING POSSIBLE BALLOT-STUFFING

Some of the video aired on Fox News Channel at the time, during which a correspondent for “Jesse Watters Primetime” confronted Geter-Pataky as she was getting out of her vehicle. Geter-Pataky offered no comment to the correspondent.

In remarks captured by Fox News following the 2023 situation, Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont dismissed claims the “potential corruption” was caused by the introduction of early voting and expanded absentee balloting.

“I think it’s people who do the corrupting,” Lamont said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Castillo and the Connecticut Democratic Party for comment. Attempts to reach Geter-Pataky were not successful.

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Chief Connecticut State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said in a statement that three of the four defendants were also charged with witness tampering in the current case.

“Integrity of our voting process is vital to our democracy,” Griffin said. “I appreciate the attention and time the Statewide Prosecution Bureau put into these investigations. I hope these prosecutions will send a message that deters tampering with election results in the future in Connecticut.”

Griffin noted all four are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Connecticut

Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford

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Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford


A multi-vehicle crash temporarily close Interstate 84 on Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. and involved four cars, according to the Hartford Fire Department.

Fire crews arrived at the scene and helped one of the drivers who was trapped. The driver was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Four other people reported minor injuries but declined ambulance treatment at the scene, officials said.

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I-84 East was temporarily shut down as crews responded but has since reopened.

The Connecticut State Police is investigating the crash.



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Maine

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

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Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money


BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

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The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

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Massachusetts

‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran


Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.

The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.

Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.

“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”

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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.

“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”

Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.

At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.

“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.

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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.

The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.

Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.

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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”

With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.



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