A local Democratic politician was arrested in New York last week following allegations that he participated in a scheme to forge the names of dead voters. 

According to the Peekskill Herald, 44-year-old Peekskill City Council Member Robert Scott challenged County Legislator Colin Smith in the Democratic primary last year.

Court threw out hundreds of signatures on petition

However, the County Board of Elections ruled in April of 2023 that of the 531 signatures on Scott's ballot petition, 217 had to be thrown out.

That move came after a lawsuit filed by Smith along with Democratic party official Marcia Stone, who serves as vice chair of the Yorktown Democratic Committee.

Stone and Smith maintained in their suit that the petition included names of people who are not Democrats as well as those who did not sign it.

They also claimed that alterations had been made to signatures and dates. Further some of those did sign it had apparently done so multiple times.

Scott charged with class E felony

County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced this past Tuesday that Scott had been arrested and charged with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, which is a class E felony.

Robert Scott was charged w/ filing petitions containing forged signatures for June '23 Dem. primary. DA Rocah: “Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. Undermining the petition process...to get on the ballot in an election violates the public’s trust.”

— District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah (@WestchesterDA) April 17, 2024

"Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. Undermining the petition process in an attempt to get on the ballot in an election violates the public's trust," Rocah said in a statement.

The Herald noted that Rocah began investigating Scott after eight individuals asserted that their names appeared on his petition despite them having never signed it.

Official denies wrongdoing

The paper quoted a statement from Smith which read, "Although I am disheartened at the news of Councilman Scott’s arrest, I applaud the District Attorney’s office for taking a strong stance on public integrity."

"Clearly, there was enough evidence of criminal conduct to warrant bringing these charges. Our elected officials must be held to a higher standard," Smith continued.

"Let this arrest serve as a warning to those who would attempt to subvert the rule of law for their own selfish gain that such self-serving behavior will not be tolerated," the official declared before calling on Scott to resign.

The Herald reported that for his part, Scott issued a statement of own denying any wrongdoing and asked "for patience as we sort through the matter."