NEW: Gemma Accuses Cicilline of Voter Fraud

NEW: Gemma Accuses Cicilline of Voter Fraud

Democratic Congressional candidate Anthony Gemma claimed Wednesday that he has uncovered rampant voter fraud dating back to incumbent Congressman David Cicilline’s first run for Mayor of Providence in 2002 all the way through his 2010 election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Gemma commissioned TRP Associates, a private firm run by former State Troopers, to investigate Cicilline’s connection to voter fraud and claims the investigators found evidence that individuals were paid to vote multiple times, paid to impersonate actual voters, registered to vote at business addresses, abandoned buildings and vacant lots and driven in from out-of-state to vote at multiple polling places.

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Gemma also claimed mail ballots and electronic voting machines have been compromised and that deceased people voted in certain elections.

“In virtually each and every instance of voter fraud document by TRP, we find David Cicilline’s closest political operatives and allies – two of who are on his Congressional staff this very day, being by you and me with our taxpayer dollars – as they orchestrate and facilitate voter fraud-related criminal acts.”

Gemma refused to release the names of anyone who allegedly participated in voter fraud efforts. He also suggested that other elected officials were involved,

Cicilline campaign manager Eric Hyers fired back following the press conference, accusing Gemma of playing “irresponsible political games.”

"This was nothing more than another bizarre and outrageous political stunt,” Hyers said. “Mr. Gemma has not one shred of evidence that David has done anything wrong. Instead he produced nothing more than bizarre statements about witnesses holed up in attics with weapons and a state representative wearing disguises to vote at multiple locations. David believes that the people of Rhode Island deserve a real discussion of the serious issues we face, not more irresponsible political games from Anthony Gemma."

During his press conference, Gemma read parts of five sworn statements from individuals who claimed they were involved in voter fraud activities over the past decade.

In addition, current Ward 8 Councilmen Wilbur Jennings claimed he was the victim of voter fraud in 2006 and perennial State Rep. candidate Laura Perez claimed she witnessed underage voters being trained to commit voter fraud by a Cicilline ally.

“My election was torn apart by the Cicilline people,” Jennings told GoLocalProv. “I was a victim of the Cicilline administration.”

Jennings could produce no evidence that Cicilline actually participated in any coordinated fraud effort.

Gemma, who retained former Attorney General Jim O’Neil as a lawyer, said he met with State Police Superintendent Steven O’Donnell “as recently as yesterday.” He said he plans to fund the investigation even if he does not win the Sept. 11 Democratic primary or the general election in November.

“The only way to rid our local, state and national political lives of the corruption that David Cicilline and his ilk represent is to step forward and cast them out by casting your votes,” Gemma said.