Pennsylvania Judge Orders $1 Million in Fees for 2020 Election Dispute

A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that three individuals involved in a long-running legal battle over voting equipment used in the 2020 election must pay nearly $1 million in fees. This decision follows a protracted dispute involving state officials, two Republican county commissioners, and their attorney.

The case centers on actions taken by Fulton County commissioners Stuart Ulsh and Randy Bunch, who sought to have Dominion voting machines examined by an external firm after the 2020 election. This move came despite a court order prohibiting such inspections. The controversy arose from allegations, predominantly from allies of former President Donald Trump, that Dominion’s software was responsible for his election loss.

Thomas Carroll, an attorney who also acted as a pro-Trump fake elector in 2020, was involved in the case and has been jointly held responsible along with the commissioners for the nearly $1 million in legal fees incurred by the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. The special master appointed to oversee the case has recommended these sanctions, which will be reviewed and finalized by the state Supreme Court.

The dispute, which began in 2021, revealed that unauthorized inspections of the voting equipment had taken place. Multiple external firms, lacking proper accreditation and authorization from the Fulton County Board of Elections, gained access to the voting systems. The third commissioner only learned of these inspections after they had occurred.

In response to these unauthorized actions, the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s office argued that the integrity of the voting equipment had been compromised, potentially affecting the chain of custody and security measures essential to prevent tampering. A directive was issued to prevent further third-party inspections and to withhold funding from counties whose machines were decertified.

Despite a protective order from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court barring further inspections, Fulton County commissioners allowed another firm, Speckin Forensics, to inspect the equipment without state knowledge. This led to further legal action by state officials, resulting in additional sanctions against the commissioners and Carroll.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s earlier sanctions included the referral of Carroll to the state’s attorney disciplinary board and an order for the Dominion voting equipment to be placed in neutral custody. The court also mandated the payment of attorney’s fees by the involved parties.

As the final chapters of this case unfold, the decision underscores the legal and financial repercussions associated with unauthorized actions related to election equipment and underscores the ongoing scrutiny of election-related disputes in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential race.