NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Pat McCrory Demands Criminal Investigation Into Alleged “Voting Irregularities”

Talking Points Memo reports:

Still trailing nearly a month after Election Day in his drawn-out bid for re-election, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) over the weekend asked the State Bureau of Investigations to launch a criminal probe into GOP claims of “voting irregularities” that are at the center of McCrory’s effort to close the vote gap with his Democratic challenger.

McCrory’s request for a criminal investigation by the state – which came in a statement issued by the governor’s office – came after the Republican-led state elections board rejected on Saturday a protest from Republicans alleging that absentee ballots in Bladen County were improperly filled out.

The complaint, which was filed by Republicans and promoted by the McCrory campaign, is one of several allegations of voter fraud claimed by McCrory as he has refused to concede in the governor’s race, even though he is currently trailing Democratic state Attorney General Roy Cooper by more than 10,000 votes.

From McCrory’s statement:

Governor Pat McCrory has requested that the State Bureau of Investigation look into voting irregularities in Bladen County. This request follows the unanimous vote by the State Board of Elections to refer the matter to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District.

“We have an obligation to ensure that every vote is counted accurately and that our elections process is conducted legally,” said Governor McCrory. “Any verified instance of voter fraud or other illegal activity should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”