Investigation into Romney Sub Sandwich Bribe Allegations Nearly Done
District attorney says interviews should wrap up this week over whether GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan broke the law by handing out subs on Election Day in Waukesha.
The Waukesha County District Attorney’s office is continuing to look into the allegations that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was passing out sub sandwiches in exchange for votes on April 3.
District Attorney Brad Schimel told Patch in an email Monday morning investigators still “have a few more interviews that we hope to accomplish this week" before determining whether to file any charges in the matter.
Romney was joined by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, on Election Day at Cousins Subs in Waukesha, where they were passing out the free sandwiches. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is accusing the two Republicans of election bribery as a result.
Democrats filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board, the state agency that oversees elections in Wisconsin, and with the district attorney's office. Since the party is alleging that a crime was committed, the GAB is not looking into the case.
Video captured by Patch shows Romney and Ryan handing out the sub sandwiches. Additionally, a video edited by the state Democratic Party shows Romney leading a rally and telling supporters to go vote, and “If you want another sandwich, there are more back there.”
State law prohibits offering something valued at more than $1 in exchange for a vote.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said it’s a clear-cut case of election bribery.
“We have pretty clear video evidence of Mitt Romney and Congressman Ryan handing out free sandwiches, and at the same time encouraging people to go cast a ballot,” Tate said on Election Day. “It’s very clearly against Wisconsin election law.”
However, Romney told WISN12 news the allegations are ridiculous and it’s a laughable stunt by the Democrats to distract from President Barack Obama’s policies that have resulted in “record job losses and skyrocketing gas prices.”
Shorewood Patch editor Adam McCoy contributed to this report.
Calvin
5:56 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Wow!!! Funny thing is that the mainstream still has to put Romney up against Obama dispite the cheating. Crazy! Maybe Ron Paul should gain a split with Gingrich for taking Romney's Wisconsin delegate shares???
Shane
3:23 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Soon we will be hearing those famous quotes again!!! "I am not a crook" yes you ar Mitt!!! And I hope they hold you accountable for at least this one of many election crimes that you have committed!!! Unfortunatly you were caught on video for this one!!! Send a message that America dont like cheates!!! Sign the petition at Change.org at the following link to Disqulify Romney from gaining the GOP Nomination
://www.change.org/?petitions/?united-states-government-di?squalify-mitt-romney-from-?republican-nomination
keepitreal05
6:16 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Who's "Tate"??
James R Hoffa
10:31 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Mike Tate, Democratic Party of Wisconsin (DPW) chair and all around stooge.
Just a guy
6:21 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
So the other guys will be offering free drinks, and before you know it you'll have hedge fund managers buying vacations for committee members managing legislation they want favorable treatment for...jeez, what's it all coming to?
Doodlebug
8:10 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
How does this differ from the cigarettes for votes at the last election? Or, the one person that said they signed the Walker recall petition 6 times for a PACK of cigarettes each time? Another person signed one of those petitions 4 times. This entire system is crooked. How is it that the Democrats don't want voter ID? Perhaps for illegal voters voting for them.What are they given? I just sit back and laugh at that. I bought a bag of dog food from Pet World and on the bottom of my receipt it is written in part, "RETURN POLICY - Photo ID required for all refunds or exchanges." Don't try to cover up that the Dems don't pull fast ones!
Publius Anon
6:39 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
what about investigating the people who accepted the sandwiches and promised to vote for Romney (and/or Ryan)?
buying a vote (with anything of value) is clearly a crime but it's also a federal crime to accept anything of value in exchange for promising to vote for a presidential candidate
18 USC 597: Expenditures to influence voting
Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and
Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
Keith Best
6:22 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The people that were there came after they voted.
It's a no-brainer. No charges needed. Afterall, this coming from the party who cast smokes for votes, Bar-B-Q for votes, and GOD knows what else for votes the last 25 years. That would be the anarchists, socialists, unionistas, marxists and communists, in other words....the New Democrat Party.
James R Hoffa
10:42 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Hoffa already performed the legal analysis of this situation and concluded that it will be a non-issue. Based on the known facts, there is a lack of adequate mens rea (criminal intent) present in order to establish enough probable cause to warrant prosecution. Pursuant to the controlling statutory scheme, this is one instance where ignorance of the law does present a valid legal defense and Ryan has already publicly acknowledge such.
Additionally, according to the standard adhered to by the Milwaukee County DA in investigating the earlier 'BBQ for Votes' scandal during last year's senatorial recall elections, there may also be an insufficient actus reus, as a commitment to vote from individual electors was not a prerequisite to receiving the free sandwich.
Accordingly, Hoffa predicts that no charges will filed over this incident.
Publius Anon
4:04 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
I believe you're wrong about the lack of mens rea. It's my understanding that both Romney and Ryan have previously, at different times, accused their opponents of using socialist programs to "buy votes". Furthermore, Romney was previously accused of vote buying activities by Santorum in the Boston primary. Therefore one has to conclude that they're both aware that it's illegal to hand a voter a free sandwich and simultaneously ask them whether they've voted yet and/or whether they're going to vote and/or to bring their neigherbors to vote and get a free sandwich.
There's nothing in the law about quid pro quo so whether the recipient of the sandwich has voted yet or commits to vote is irrelevant. It's also irrelvant as to whether the voter accepts the sandwich before or after voting and/or rejects the offered sandwich (several people turned down the offered sandwich and simply shook hands and/or said they'd already voted). Merely offering the sandwich and simultaneously asking people to vote now/today is the illegal act.
Susan Green
4:40 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
http://www.luxworlds.com/louis-vuitton-cabas-gm-monogram-sabbia-bag-m93498-p2224.html
Phillip Gooch
4:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Based on the info he broke the law there and as anyone who brakes that law he should be charged & so should paul Ryan cause he was handing them out basically on Romney's behalf he has to be charged or the law is useless.
Danl
4:39 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
After all the laws of God and man that this man has broken, Romney going down on this would be like Al Capone going to jail over tax evasion.
Max Carter
3:19 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Like republicans investigating republicans in Waukesha County is going to end up anywhere but in the "ignore file" They committed a crime that was witnessed by many. Anything but proper criminal charges is a sham.