BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. — The Washington Post is reporting that District 9 congressional candidate Mark Harris is the one who wanted to hire the man who is now at the center of the election fraud investigation.
[SPECIAL SECTION: District 9 investigation]
The Post said Harris actually sought out McCrae Dowless after Dowless had great success with absentee ballots for one of Harris' opponents in 2016.
The Post does not mention whether Harris knew exactly how Dowless achieved such success.
Past coverage
- NC State Board of Elections Chairman resigns amid controversy
- Who is McCrae Dowless, man who appears to be center of 9th District investigation?
- Photo shows Mark Harris and man at center of election fraud investigation together
- Amid fraud probe, an election redo might require new primary for 9th District
- Dan McCready releases 10 questions for Mark Harris
- Dan McCready withdraws concession to Mark Harris in District 9 race
- 'Things have gotten way out of hand': Bladen Co. BOE vice chair resigns
- NC GOP leader calls for new 9th District election if early voting numbers were leaked
- US House District 9 race investigation: How we got here
- Former NC Gov. Pat McCrory weighs in on U.S. House District 9 investigation
- State officials in Bladen County investigating U.S. House District 9 election
- Channel 9 uncovers similarities between absentee ballots in U.S. House District 9 race
- Second woman claims she was paid to pick up ballots in U.S. House District 9 race
Officials said the new information is coming from three people familiar with Harris' campaign.
According to the Post, Harris hired Dowless despite warnings about his criminal record and Dowless' own public testimony describing questionable election tactics.
Dowless is accused of hiring people to illegally collect absentee ballots.
Candidates told Channel 9 there was never any doubt how Dowless operated.
Sabrina Murchison was a Democratic school board candidate in 2016. She said Dowless wanted to be her campaign manager, but she refused to hire him when he allegedly told her to illegally collect ballots.
[READ: School board candidate says McCrae Dowless asked her to collect absentee ballots]
"He wanted me to go out and get the absentee ballots," said Murchison.
The state board of elections is investigating before deciding whether a new election is necessary. The board is expected to review the evidence in a hearing next week.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Dozens of email bomb threats force evacuations in Charlotte area
- Rock Hill business owner sentenced for using maid service to sell drugs
- FOOD SAFETY: Panthers, Hornets facilities rank among worst in US
- WATCH: Meteorologist Jaclyn Shearer's Friday forecast outlook
- Good Samaritans save family from burning Chesterfield County home
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
