The NRSC sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Jesse Laslovich, to demand that he investigate the actions of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee staffer who was caught on video tampering with an absentee ballot box in Glacier County.
The DSCC reportedly fired or reassigned the staffer who tried to tamper with the ballot box, but questions still remain about what he planned to do with the ballot box had he been successful in removing it from the wall, and whether he had been instructed by the DSCC to tamper.
Read the full letter here or below.
October 24, 2024
The Honorable Jesse Laslovich
U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana
Billings Main Office
2601 2nd Ave N., Suite 3200
Billings, MT 59101
Dear U.S. Attorney Laslovich:
I write regarding the now-widely publicized footage appearing to show an individual, identified as a Democrat political operative working in support of Jon Tester’s U.S. Senate campaign, attempting to open and/or remove an absentee ballot drop box. For anyone to tamper with an absentee ballot drop box, let alone a professional political operative supporting a United States Senator’s campaign, is nothing less than an assault on Montana’s elections and the will of its voters. Indeed, as you recently have said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.”[1] The NRSC therefore respectfully demands that your office immediately investigate this disturbing incident and prosecute any persons found to have broken federal law.
On October 20, 2024, at approximately 10:25 AM Mountain Daylight Time, a surveillance camera located at the Glacier County Satellite Office, 503 SE Boundary Street, Browning, MT 59417 recorded a video of an individual tampering with a ballot drop box. This drop box, one of only two such boxes located within Glacier County, is intended for the return of absentee ballots.[2]
The surveillance video depicts an adult male exiting his vehicle and approaching the drop box, which is secured to an exterior column of the Satellite Office. The individual places both hands on the drop box and repeatedly pushes on it, in an apparent attempt to open or even to remove it. He then steps away from the box to briefly use his cell phone, appears to text someone, and then appears to take a photo of the box. Finally, he once again places both hands on the box and appears to make one final attempt to dislodge it before returning to his vehicle.
Media reports identify this individual as Laszlo Gendler, an employee of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.[3] In one of the most expensive and most competitive elections in history, the DSCC has spent millions to elect Senator Tester and is working hand-in-glove with his campaign.[4] The DSCC reportedly has relieved Mr. Gendler of these duties since this incident came to light, stating that his actions “were not in accordance with [DSCC] procedures.”[5] While this confirms the serious nature of the incident, it also raises even more questions about who else was involved and why. If Mr. Gendler had been instructed not to tamper with absentee ballot drop boxes, then why did he? Why did he photograph the box after failing to dislodge it? And with whom was he talking and/or texting during this time? Did the DSCC instruct him to tamper with this ballot drop box?
It is, of course, a crime under both federal and state law to tamper with an absentee ballot box.[6] It also is no secret that millions of Americans have serious concerns about the integrity of our elections. Incidents like this harm their faith even further, making it all the more urgent that you investigate exactly what transpired this past Sunday. Swift and decisive action from your office would help bolster confidence in Montana’s elections and deter other potential bad actors.
We also are aware that you have close ties to Senator Tester, for whom your cousin serves as Chief of Staff. Nevertheless, we trust that you will set familial ties aside, and honor the oath you swore upon taking office by faithfully executing your duties in this matter.
Your office is tasked with upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all Montanans, and that mission is particularly essential in the closing weeks of this hotly competitive election. We therefore urge you to investigate this serious incident to determine the extent of these crimes and to prosecute any violations of federal law that you find.
Sincerely,
Ryan G. Dollar
NRSC General Counsel