ATLANTIC CITY — Prosecutors say "autograph parties" were held in Atlantic City in 2009 in which absentee ballots were steamed open and replaced or destroyed. The revelation came Wednesday as a judge refused to dismiss voter-fraud charges against three of 14 people accused of trying to fix Atlantic City's Democratic mayoral primary. The judge turned away defense claims that...
David Callaway, center, is arrested by State Police for voter fraud charges outside of Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing in this June 2009 file photo. A judge refused to throw out charges against Callaway and two others Wednesday.ATLANTIC CITY — Prosecutors say "autograph parties" were held in Atlantic City in 2009 in which absentee ballots were steamed open and replaced or destroyed.
The revelation came Wednesday as a judge refused to dismiss voter-fraud charges against three of 14 people accused of trying to fix Atlantic City's Democratic mayoral primary.
The judge turned away defense claims that the investigation of David Callaway, Floyd Tally and LuQuay Zahir was nothing but "selective prosecution" made as retribution for City Councilman Marty Small successfully fighting similar charges two years earlier.
The judge called that claim the most interesting only if he "could measure audacity."
Incumbent Lorenzo Langford beat Small and a third candidate in the June primary.
Previous coverage:
• Former Atlantic City mayoral candidate, 13 campaign workers are indicted in voter-fraud scheme
• Atlantic City campaign worker admits role in absentee ballot fraud case
• Atlantic City mayoral vote probe widens to more campaign workers