James Devine, a Democratic campaign strategist, has been charged with election fraud by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who accused Devine of sending over 1,900 fraudulent ballots to help Lisa McCormick secure a spot in the 2021 gubernatorial primary.

According to reports, Devine, who was the campaign manager for McCormick in 2021, allegedly sent fake voter certifications to the New Jersey Secretary of State’s Division of Elections through email in April of that year.

Platkin stated that the New Jersey State Committee contested Devine’s submission of the fake ballots, pointing out that the signatures he provided displayed a consistent style of penmanship, and that one of the voters was deceased.

A judge reviewed the case and subsequently removed McCormick from the primary ballot. Devine has been charged with third-degree offenses for tampering with nomination certificates and public records, as well as fourth-degree offenses for falsifying or tampering with records, the Daily Caller reported.

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Longtime Dem Campaign Strategist Hit With Election Fraud Charges
James Devinehttps://t.co/s9i9NM8k4f pic.twitter.com/SxHSDN4TOL

— Retired NCO (@virgofiveeight) May 3, 2023

New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Executive Director Thomas Eicher stated: “Fraudulent acts like this erode faith in our government and the rule of law, and there must be consequences.”

If he’s convicted, Devine faces more than five years in prison.

On Twitter, Devine responded: “My political adversaries pounced on a mistake because they want to intimidate anyone with the temerity to challenge this incredibly corrupt system & I have been a pain in the ass to powerful people. I hope this does not stop people from participating in American democracy.”

My political adversaries pounced on a mistake because they want to intimidate anyone with the temerity to challenge this incredibly corrupt system & I have been a pain in the ass to powerful people.

I hope this does not stop people from participating in American democracy.

— James Devine (@James_J_Devine) April 28, 2023

Devine was a political director for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee from 1992–1993. He described himself as a “masterful Democratic Party campaign strategist.”

In February, a California Democratic city council member was arrested and charged with allegedly engaging in election fraud, according to a local report.

Shakir Khan, a member of the Lodi City Council, was arrested after already facing additional criminal charges, according to CBS Sacramento. The outlet said that Khan resigned from his post a few days before his arrest, then claimed that his resignation was coerced. The new vote fraud charges are reportedly related to the 2020 election.

“We became aware of Shakir Khan’s arrest this morning and I had the opportunity to speak with him here at the county jail and asked for his resignation, effective immediately. He agreed to resign,” Lodi Mayor Mikey Hothi noted in a statement at the time, according to the outlet. “The city is fully cooperating with the investigation. I want to thank the sheriff’s office and everybody involved, ensuring a fair and thorough process.”

According to Khan’s attorney, who spoke to CBS13, his client was coerced into resigning from his position without legal representation, claiming that he was under duress at the time. The attorney also indicated that Khan had not yet officially stepped down from his city council post. However, the sheriff’s office alleged that there is substantial evidence to suggest that Khan betrayed the public’s trust.

Khan was charged with multiple offenses related to voter fraud. Charges included causing, procuring, or allowing false voter registration of himself or another person, submitting fraudulent voter registration to the Secretary of State, submitting a fraudulent candidacy petition, aiding and abetting fraud in any election, subscribing fictitious names to nomination petitions, making a false nomination or declaration of candidacy, fraudulently casting votes, and procuring, assisting, counseling, or advising another person who is not qualified to vote.

The local outlet noted further:

Back in 2021, Khan was arraigned on charges relating to illegal gambling, money laundering, tax evasion, and unemployment claim fraud.

The San Joaquin County Registrar’s Office said they are fully cooperating with the sheriff’s office with its investigation. They also say they are re-evaluating their systems in an effort to prevent voter fraud in the future. 

Sheriff Patrick Withrow of San Joaquin County stated that the charges against Khan are the result of an investigation that began in 2019 in response to previous allegations against him.

Withrow further explained that members of the public had expressed concern about the integrity of the election process, which prompted law enforcement to pursue the matter.