The US Department of Justice has filed new allegations that a Smartmatic executive transferred money from a $282 million voting machine contract with Los Angeles County into slush funds originally set up to pay bribes to a Philippine election official. The funds were moved in 2019, but prosecutors have not confirmed whether any bribes were paid from the LA County money.
The allegations are part of an ongoing case against three Smartmatic executives indicted last year on bribery and money laundering charges. Prosecutors claim the executives conspired with a Taiwanese hardware maker to overcharge for voting machines, using the excess to pay bribes and kickbacks. The Justice Department says it has documents and witness testimony to support its claims.
Separately, Fox News has filed a court motion in its defamation defense against Smartmatic, alleging that LA County Registrar Dean Logan may have received unreported gifts from the company, including business-class travel and meals. Logan disputes the claims, stating the gifts were not required to be reported. Fox News is seeking county records to support its defense.
Smartmatic has not been accused of wrongdoing, and a spokesperson called the Justice Department's allegations 'filled with misrepresentations,' asserting the company operates ethically and complies with all laws. The new allegations have not been added to the formal charges against the executives.
