POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Democratic Committee Chairperson Elisa Sumner has requested that the District Attorney investigate Republican Election Commissioner Erik Haight for what Sumner considers perjury.
A letter from Sumner to Dutchess County District Attorney Bill Grady on Monday, January 25, requests that the prosecutor investigate Haight for allegedly intentionally misleading a judge in an October proceeding in which Bard College and others were seeking to have a polling place moved to the Red Hook college campus.
During the proceeding, Haight argued before Dutchess County Supreme Court Justice Maria Rosa saying that the move at such a late date would cause voter confusion just days before the November election. Justice Rosa agreed with Haight on October 13 and declined to move the polling place.
Two days later, Haight relocated two other polling places in Red Hook. Bard College appealed Rosa’s first ruling, using Haight’s actions as the foundation. After hearing the arguments, Rosa reversed her earlier decision and was critical of Haight in her ruling, saying in part, “The basis for this court’s decision and order has now been eliminated since the primary factor identified by Commissioner Haight and relied upon by this court was simply untrue. Apparently, there was, and is, time to move the polling place for District 5 in Red Hook. ”
Sumner’s letter to Grady obtained by Mid-Hudson News, asks for Haight’s actions to be scrutinized. “We ask that you open a fair, impartial, and thorough investigation into these matters to determine whether perjury and other charges or sanctions are warranted.”
District Attorney Grady declined to comment on the matter.
Haight considers the request an attack on him personally. When asked if he knowingly committed perjury, he said, “I just learned of this ridiculous press release. The Democratic chairman is lobbing a meritless allegation towards the Republican Commissioner. As I’ve never perjured myself, this is nothing more than a political hack involved in a cheap stunt.” When pressed about whether he committed perjury, he fired back with “I sent you my comment. I’m not going to dignify the rest. Your questions derive from her allegations, which are bogus.”
NEWS STORY PROVIDED BY: Mid Hudson News -www.midhudsonnews.com