(ST. PAUL, MN) – Tuesday, Senate Republicans brought questions for Secretary of State Steve Simon based on reports of voters being directed to partisan websites when searching for their polling location. Simon had been scheduled to testify before the State Government and Elections Committee at 1 pm, but at the last minute informed the Chair, Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake), that he would not be attending. In a statement, Simon blamed a staff member for adding the partisan websites to the list options for redirection.
“If it’s ‘all hands on deck,’ he should be able to be here to answer our questions,” Kiffmeyer said. “In fact, I have even more questions. How did the staffer gain access to do this? Where did they get this list of sites? And why, having received an increase of funding each year to fully fund their needs, does the Secretary need to rely on third parties when this system has worked fine for much bigger elections?”
In response to the suggestion that this could be fraud, Senator John Jasinski (R- Faribault) strongly advised the committee to read the Secretary’s statement that this was not fraud but in fact a deliberate action. “This wasn’t hacking, this was a mistake,” Jasinski said. “How can we be sure this won’t happen in the next election?” he asked.
State law specifically prevents state employees, including those in the secretary of state office, from taking part in any political activity on state time. “What I want to know is what, if any, law has been broken here?” asked Senator Scott Newman (R- Hutchinson). “Clearly, this is an employee inserting their own political agenda using state time and resources. And if that isn’t a violation of state law, it should be.”
“Over the past few years, Secretary Simon has echoed concerns that we need to protect against “Russian” and outside digital interference in our elections. The legislature has obliged and given their office several millions in the past budget for election security. This was an inside job, not outside interference, so it rightfully raises a lot of questions from the public,” said Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake).
“It was enough that there was a problem with the reporting site last November. Minnesotans deserve to have secure and equal elections. Conduct like this leaves us wondering what else is going on in their taxpayer funded office, which is supposed to be nonpartisan,” Westrom added.
“The Secretary of State is responsible for his office and accountable to the public. His statement is not enough. We need answers from him to these questions, and maybe more questions, as we learn what happened.” Kiffmeyer concluded. Without Simon there to respond, the committee instead submitted a list of questions to his office for answers.
LINK: Watch Senator Kiffmeyer address the media