Carbon County Ballot Shredding Scandal: Renewed Calls for FBI Investigation
Guest post
Carbon County, Montana, is embroiled in a growing controversy over election integrity. Lisa Bennett, a staunch advocate for transparency, is urging the FBI to reopen its investigation into alleged ballot shredding during the 2022 general election—a scandal that continues to spark debate.
The controversy centers on Election Administrator Crystal Roascio, who was caught on video allegedly shredding ballots. The county claimed the shredded materials were UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) ballots, a routine procedure. However, Bennett points to Roascio’s own testimony, which states that all UOCAVA ballot materials are retained—contradicting the county’s explanation.
Bennett has revealed that 21 batches of information were shredded, potentially representing over 100 ballots. The Clerk & Recorder, who oversaw loose ballots without a chain of custody, narrowly won her election by 87 votes. With 6,800 ballots cast in Carbon County, the shredding raises serious concerns about the integrity of the election process.
Adding to the suspicion, Bennett highlights a three-hour delay in tabulating ballots after the last precincts were delivered. During this time, video evidence shows staff sorting through ballots without oversight from election judges. This sorting process, Bennett alleges, allowed staff to identify under-voted ballots and potentially fill them in—a practice that raises serious questions about the fairness of the election.
Another alarming detail is the missing start-up tape from one voting machine. This tape, resembling a long cash register scroll, proves the machine was reset to zero after testing. Its absence suggests it was intentionally cut, raising the possibility that the machine could have been preloaded with votes.
Bennett alleges that the FBI investigation into these irregularities was prematurely closed for political reasons. She points to a puzzling timeline: FBI Agent Chuck Sampson informed her on January 4, 2024, that the investigation was closed, citing orders from Corey Amundson of the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Sector. Yet, 18 days later, Montana U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich sent a letter to Sampson reiterating the closure. Bennett questions why the investigation was declared closed before the official letter was received.
Time is running out. Bennett’s Public Records Request lawsuit against Carbon County is nearing its trial date. Once resolved, the county will be free to destroy election records older than 22 months—including those from 2020 and 2022. Bennett believes these records could contain critical evidence of irregularities, including alleged tampering with under-voted ballots to sway the 2020 recreational marijuana ballot initiative and the 2022 Clerk & Recorder race.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Bennett warns, as the 2026 election approaches. “The integrity of our elections and the public’s trust in the process depend on a thorough and impartial investigation.”
As the clock ticks, calls for transparency and accountability grow louder in Carbon County. Whether the FBI will act remains uncertain, but the fight for election integrity in the United States is far from over.
The post EXCLUSIVE: Carbon County MT Ballot Shredding Scandal: Renewed Calls for FBI Investigation first appeared on Joe Hoft.