SNOHOMISH — Days after the 2020 presidential election, with ballot counting under way around the country, Republican state Rep. Robert Sutherland of Granite Falls cried foul.
“I want to see every legal vote counted. I will accept either (candidate) if it is a fair election,” Sutherland said. “I am not at all convinced this is a fair election. I am not sure we can find out the true outcome.”
His mind has not changed, even as months have passed and still no proof has surfaced that the election was stolen from President Donald Trump.
Sutherland is not the only one peddling unproven theories of widespread electoral fraud and misdeeds, though. This Sunday he’ll be one of several political conservatives taking aim at the integrity of ballot counting and results in Washington and other states at a forum at a Snohomish church.
It is billed as a public hearing that will feature — according to social media posts — “actual voters” and experts testifying to the “evidence of election irregularities” and fraud they’ve witnessed or experienced.
Organized by a group dubbed Americans United and Determined to Improve Transparency (AUDIT), the purpose is to gather information to support conduct of a full-blown forensic exam of the election.
Sutherland, who observed the recent “forensic audit” of ballots cast in Phoenix, has said a similar undertaking should be done of those cast in Washington — even though there’s been no evidence of fraud discovered.
The state representative did not respond to phone calls or email to discuss the event and his role.
Joining him will be Republican state Reps. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, Vicki Kraft of Vancouver, Bob McCaslin of Spokane Valley and Rob Chase of Liberty Lake.
Also in the lineup is Seth Keshel, a former Army captain who earlier this month put out a state-by-state report of purported election fraud, which was quickly debunked. Glen Morgan, executive director of the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights and a watchdog of election and campaign finance practices, will speak too.
The event is being held at the House Ministry Center, a church that last year hosted an anti-mask pastor with a national following.
Jerry Cornfield: jcornfield@heraldnet.com; @dospueblos
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