This just hit the news over on Haverfordblog. Not only was Lisa Paolino found guilty in court for producing phony ballots, but she has refused to turn over documentation related to ballots which may have been previously distributed.

This is big big news, for two reasons:

1) Lisa Paolino was caught lying. Period. The judge said as much by using the phrase "clearly misleading". Now, if Lisa was lying here, where else might she be lying? I believe that this brings her trustworthiness into serious question.

2) Lisa Paolino refused to turn over invoices that specified how many ballots were printed or distributed. So neither the judge nor her opponent have any way of knowing just how many more fake ballots might be out there. This also means that by defying the judge, she is also in contempt of court. If this is the kind of respect that she has for our legal system, I don't want her in any elected office.

The Judge's Order can be found over here, if anyone would like to read it.

And now, the release:

JUDGE FINDS PAOLINO GUILTY OF DECEIVING VOTERS WITH PHONY "OFFICIAL" REPUBLICAN BALLOT

Judge Orders Paolino's Fraudulent Ballots Be Collected and Confiscated; At 6:30pm Paolino Refused to Turn Over Documentation of "Previously Distributed" Phony Ballots As Ordered by the Judge

(Ardmore, PA) – Late this afternoon in the Montgomery County Courthouse, Montgomery County President Judge Richard Hodgson ruled that defendant Lisa Paolino "cease and desist all production and dissemination" of fraudulent Republican endorsement ballots. The ballots were circulated to Republican voters today via bulk mail, and were planned to be distributed on Election Day in an attempt to deceive voters into thinking that she is the endorsed Republican candidate in the 17th Senate district race.

The Judge ordered Paolino to turn over all fraudulent ballots to Lance Rogers or the Court "now in their possession or previously distributed."

On the fraudulent ballot, Paolino removed endorsed Republican candidate Lance Rogers' name, and replaced it with her own name. The fraudulent ballot is, in appearance, identical to the actual Montgomery County Republican Committee's official green ballot. Judge Hodgson stated that Paolino's ballots "were clearly misleading."

At exactly 6:30 p.m., Paolino was forced to turnover four large trash bags full of fraudulent ballots, which are now being held by a representative of the Montgomery County Republican Committee (MCRC). Paolino however refused to turn over printing invoices accounting for the number of ballots printed, mailed or previously distributed. It is impossible to determine whether all ballots "previously distributed" have been identified and collected, meaning that she has not fully complied with the Judge's orders. These actions place Lisa Paolino and her campaign in contempt of Court.

"Republicans deserve a fair and clean election, and it is sad that Ms. Paolino is trying to steal an election by deceiving voters," said Lance Rogers.

"Lisa Paolino and her campaign are already under investigation by the State Attorney General's office for previously reported illegal campaign activities," said Mark Campbell, spokesman for Lance Rogers' campaign. "In light of the investigation, she backed out of a televised debate in her hometown yesterday claiming to have lost her voice, which is rather humorous, considering she could be heard screaming at her attorney in the Montgomery County Courthouse today over the phone."

Lance Rogers was endorsed by the MCRC on February 11th. The endorsement is listed on websites by both the MCRC and the Delaware County Republican Party, which also endorsed him.

Source: Haverfordblog