Former GOP Election Official Buys Election Machine Vendor That Trump Attacked After His 2020 Loss

The corporate belonging to a former Republican election official has reportedly purchased Dominion Voting Programs. The election vendor, which endured a slew of baseless MAGA conspiracy theories within the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, has been acquired by an organization referred to as Liberty Vote, in line with a press launch from the corporate.

Liberty Vote is a brand new firm that’s owned by Scott Leiendecker. Leiendecker, who already owns an electronic poll book company called KNOWiNK, beforehand labored for the Missouri Secretary of State and later served because the Election Director of town of St. Louis, Axios reports. In each circumstances, he was appointed to these positions by Matt Blunt, who—at the moment—was Missouri’s secretary of state, the outlet notes. It provides that Ed Martin, who’s described as “a loyal Trump surrogate,” chaired the St. Louis Board of Elections on the similar time that Leiendecker served as election director.

So what has occurred to Dominion? It not exists, in line with a press launch shared with Gizmodo by Liberty Vote. “As of right now, Dominion is gone. Liberty Vote assumes full possession and operational management,” the press launch states.

It’s unclear how the corporate will change underneath Leiendecker’s management, though in statements shared with the press, the chief has provided a hopeful tone. “In the present day, I’m proud to announce Liberty Vote — a 100% American‐owned election know-how firm devoted to restoring belief in our elections,” Leiendecker stated on the new company’s website. “Our mission is obvious: each vote should be safe, honest, and verifiable.” He added: “Our objective is easy: to make sure that America’s elections are safe, honest, and trustworthy.”

In feedback shared within the press launch seen by Gizmodo, Leiendecker additional said that Liberty is “dedicated to delivering election know-how that prioritizes paper-based transparency, safety, and ease in order that voters may be assured that each poll is filled-in precisely and pretty counted.”

The assertion’s emphasis on “paper-based” safety is notable as a result of President Trump has usually demanded America “go back” to utilizing paper ballots. In actuality, a lot of the states within the U.S. already use paper ballots, with machines doing the intitial counting.

As beforehand famous, Dominion Voting Programs loved a variety of hefty monetary paydays after it turned the goal of rightwing conspiracy theories involving the 2020 presidential election. In 2023, Fox Information reached a $787 million settlement with Dominion over baseless claims that have been unfold on the community about election-rigging. Earlier this yr, the conservative community Newsmax additionally agreed to pay $67 million to the corporate to settle an identical lawsuit. A few weeks in the past, former New York mayor turned MAGA dope Rudy Giuliani additionally reportedly reached a settlement with the corporate as a part of its $1.3 billion lawsuit in opposition to him. The phrases of the settlement have been confidential.

Curiously sufficient, Axios studies that, as a part of the latest acquisition, “Liberty officers requested Dominion to settle a number of different defamation lawsuits in opposition to Trump allies who attacked the corporate over the 2020 election outcomes.” Nevertheless, there may be not less than one one who nonetheless appears to be on the hook with the corporate. Enterprise Insider reported Thursday that the corporate still appeared to be suing Mike Lindell, the MyPillow man. On Thursday, Lindell instructed BI that he was “not conscious of any provides from Dominion or Liberty Vote to settle their authorized disputes.”