Smartmatic Voting Systems and LA County, California, at the center of massive $282 MILLION dollar bribery and money-laundering scheme.
U.S. prosecutors have accused executives at Smartmatic, a voting technology company, of engaging in a bribery and money-laundering scheme. The allegations center on funds from a $282 million contract with Los Angeles County being diverted to "slush funds" linked to bribes paid to a former Philippine election official for overseas contracts.
Key figures indicted include Smartmatic president Roger Piñate and two others, who allegedly collaborated with a Taiwanese hardware firm to overcharge for machines. Additionally, questions have arisen about unreported gifts, such as travel and accommodations, provided to LA County's registrar-recorder, Dean Logan.
While Smartmatic denies the claims and no charges target the company itself, the case raises concerns about election system integrity and transparency in public contracts. LA County has barred the indicted executives but maintains the partnership.
Source: The Guardian
