Seriously? Man at Epicenter of 9th District Absentee Ballot Fraud Case Files to Retain Local Office Seat

BLADEN COUNTY – If you were at the center of an electoral fraud investigation that received (politically motivated) national media attention; you might think it best to lay low for a while. At the very least, you might find it prudent to stay away from electoral politics for a time. Not McCrae Dowless.

The man at the center of North Carolina’s notorious 9th District absentee ballot harvesting saga, McCrae Dowless, who still faces criminal charges, has filed to run and retain a local office he held at the time of the 2018 investigation.

From the Bladen Journal:

“[…] McCrae Dowless, who faces criminal charges related to the 2018 election, is a candidate to retain his seat with the Bladen Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors. The nonpartisan election will pit Dowless against Dawson Singletary of Bladenboro and Eddie Hester of Bladenboro. […]

In addition to state election law charges, Dowless has been indicted and faces federal charges of fraudulently receiving Social Security benefits while getting paid for political work in the 2018 election cycle. The indictment of four counts was handed up by a grand jury April 7.

The charges are two counts of Social Security fraud, a count of making a false statement, and a count of theft of government property. If convicted of theft, Dowless could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The other charges each carry maximum penalties of five years and $250,000 fines.

At the state level, Dowless was indicted last year on charges involving ballot “harvesting” allegations during the 2016 and 2018 elections. The litigation has not been resolved. […]”

Perhaps Mr. Dowless took one look at 2020, so far, and decided it couldn’t hurt. Thinking about how 2020 has progressed; can you blame him?