FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2023

Press Contact:

Chris Farmer

[email protected]

804 912 6007

Scheduling Press Interview:

Debbie Gwynn

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804 393 2715

Documented Appearance of Election Collusion Between Chesterfield GOP Chair Leslie Haley and Sturtevant Campaign

Chesterfield GOP Chair Only Invites Sturtevant Campaign to Certify

Early Voting Equipment Prior to the Election

CHESTERFIELD, VA- Senator Amanda Chase, Chairwoman of the National Election Integrity Caucus and Incumbent Senator seeking the Republican nomination for Senate District 12 in a Republican Primary, requested and now has received documentation from the Chesterfield Country Registrar's Office to confirm suspicions of collusion between the current GOP Chair and the Sturtevant campaign.

The Chesterfield County Registrar's office has confirmed through documentation that Chesterfield GOP Chair and attorney Leslie Haley did indeed authorize Lauren Fulcher, the Campaign Manager of the Sturtevant campaign to be the sole campaign representative representing the Chesterfield GOP to witness the certification of early voting machines in Chesterfield County. No other campaigns were invited. At first she submitted the name "Lauren Fuller" but when pressed by the Chesterfield Registrar's office correctly admitted it was indeed "Lauren Fulcher."

The Chesterfield GOP Chair Leslie Haley was asked by the Chesterfield Registrar's office to provide one name to serve as the Republican representative witnessing the certification process of the early voting election equipment. She chose Lauren Fulcher, the Campaign Manager and largest donor for the Glenn Sturtevant campaign, instead of a neutral observer, which is a complete conflict of interest and the appearance of clear and convincing documentation that the Chesterfield GOP Chair is colluding and coordinating with the Sturtevant campaign to ensure victory in the Republican Primary, in which early voting began on Friday, May 5.

"This documentation appears to confirm what our team has suspected all along, collusion between the Sturtevant campaign and the Chesterfield GOP Chair to influence the SD12 race in favor of Sturtevant. It appears we have caught them red handed and have now have the documentation to support what appears to be an underhanded effort in favor of Sturtevant," stated Senator Chase.

"At a time when voter confidence in our election process is at an all-time low, we should be working diligently to restore that confidence of voters by ensuring all processes are transparent, fair and above reproach. All campaigns should have been invited to view the certification of the voting equipment, not just one. If only one representative could have been chosen, they should have been a neutral party member, not the campaign manager of one particular campaign."

"I am deeply disturbed by this egregious and obvious conflict of interest by Chairwoman Leslie Haley who we know has already endorsed Glen Sturtevant and demand her resignation immediately. It is clear she is not neutral and appears she is actively working to help Sturtevant. Leslie Haley and Glen Sturtevant are both attorneys and know better. They are without excuse."

"This is an arrogantly blatant conflict of interest and a complete failure in judgment on the part of both the party chair and the Sturtevant campaign, creating at the vey least an appearance of collusion between the Chesterfield GOP Chair and the Sturtevant campaign. Chesterfield County Chairwoman Leslie Haley needs to step down immediately," stated Senator Chase.

"Clearly this is a case of the fox guarding the hen house. I'm deeply disturbed and outraged that the Sturtevant campaign who falsely professes to be a champion for election integrity, has engaged in compromising and unacceptable behavior that further undermines the confidence of voters in a fair, transparent and uncompromised election."

Please see the documentation below submitted to Senator Chase by the Chesterfield Registrar's office and made available on the Virginia Access Project.

Initially, Chesterfield Chairwoman Leslie Haley submits the name, "Lauren Fuller" instead of "Lauren Fulcher." Was this misspelling intentional and was it an intentional attempt to hide the fact that the chair was going to have the Campaign Manager of the Sturtevant campaign to be the only GOP representative to view the certification of the voting equipment?

Lauren Fulcher is not only the official Campaign Manager for the Sturtevant campaign, but she has donated thousands to Glen Sturtevant's campaign and yet she was the only Republican invited and present to certify the voting equipment. Documentation from VPAP.

This endorsement letter shows the clear intent of the Chesterfield GOP Chair to support Glen Sturtevant. While this endorsement was made prior to her serving as the Chesterfield County Chair, it clearly demonstrates she is not a neutral party.