Election Investigation Newsletter - October 15, 2021 - Pennsylvania Election Investigation

Dear Friend,

I am honored to have been given your trust to carry out what I believe to be one of the most important public service endeavors in recent Pennsylvania history – rebuilding the public’s faith in our elections. For me, the goal of this election investigation is to dig deeper into Pennsylvania’s election process than any previous review so that we can identify any flaws in the system and swiftly fix them. Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy in this country, so I take this duty very seriously as a public servant and as an American. In an effort to be transparent, I will send these regular email updates directly to you so you can stay up to date with every step of the investigation.

Sincerely,

Senator Cris Dush (R-25)
Chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee & Election Investigation

In This Update:

What We’ve Accomplished So Far
Investigation Next Steps
How Your Personal Information Is Being Protected
Meet Senator Cris Dush

What We’ve Accomplished So Far

Election reform has been a hot topic for more than a year, with many lawmakers fighting to ensure proper oversight of our voting process. Proper oversight will allow us to make Election Code improvements so voting will be both more accessible and secure. Here’s a brief recap of what we’ve accomplished so far:

August 20, 2021 – Senator Corman appoints Senator Cris Dush (R-25) as chair of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee to get results the people of Pennsylvania can believe in.
September 9, 2021 – The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee holds a public hearing on the Investigation of the 2020 General Election and the 2021 Primary Election. The Department of State refuses to participate.
September 15, 2021 – The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee votes to issue a subpoena for a variety of different materials from the Pennsylvania Department of State (see footage from meeting above).

Investigation Next Steps

While I understand the criticism that this process isn’t moving fast enough, I want to assure Pennsylvanians that this investigation will be done right. A quick investigation that isn’t thorough, that isn’t secure, and that isn’t legally sound doesn’t help anyone, and it certainly doesn’t do anything to restore the public’s confidence in Pennsylvania elections.

I pledge to conduct an investigation of our elections that can be trusted, and to do so with fidelity.

After the committee voted to issue a subpoena to obtain various election materials from the Pennsylvania Department of State to conduct a thorough investigation of the 2020 General and 2021 Primary Elections, the subpoena was immediately and frivolously challenged in court. To be clear, we cannot proceed with the investigation or obtain the necessary election materials from the Department of State until the courts decide these cases.

Initially, there were three lawsuits challenging the subpoena. Recently, the courts decided to consolidate these three cases into one case, which I hope will ultimately speed up a final decision and allow the investigation to proceed as soon as possible.

We will continue fighting to ensure legal challenges to the investigation are completed on an expedited schedule.

How Your Personal Information Is Being Protected

Despite the baseless claims from election investigation opponents that your personal information will be at risk as a result of our subpoena, I want to assure Pennsylvanians that their personal information will be safe during our review of the 2020 General and 2021 Primary Elections. As a member of the military as well as an investigator in the private sector, I have a proven track record of conducting safe and secure investigations that produce reliable results.

I have pledged to take every step necessary to protect your personal information, including:

Insisting on contract language with potential vendors to ensure information security,
Forcing any vendor personnel who accesses this information to sign non-disclosure agreements under penalty of law, and
Making information security a key consideration as we decide which vendor to select.

I will continue to provide updates throughout the process and make myself available to answer any questions or concerns so that Pennsylvanians can have complete confidence in this investigation and its results.

Read more about my pledge to protect your personal information here.

Meet Senator Cris Dush

As a native Pennsylvanian, it was a great honor take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of this Commonwealth both as a member of the General Assembly and as an officer in the military.

After graduating from Clarion State College, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where I served our country until enlisting with the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard as a Security Forces member in 2000. I was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, and on the American border in New Mexico. I also served on the staff with the Air Force Special Operations Command.

Perhaps my most relevant experience was serving as the Chief of Information Protection, where I was responsible for safeguarding the classified information programs at the Pennsylvania Air National Guard headquarters and units throughout the Commonwealth.

I have dedicated my entire life to serving the citizens of this Commonwealth and defending our Constitution to ensure that freedom endures. I take seriously our right to free and fair elections; I take seriously our right to privacy; and as such, I pledge to conduct an honest, responsible, and secure investigation of our elections, with fidelity.

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