Postal worker threw out 300 mail-in ballots out of self-described ‘laziness,’ DOJ says

WASHINGTON — An overwhelmed U.S. postal worker in Utah threw 300 mail-in ballots into a parking lot dumpster shortly before the state’s June 23 primary election in which both Democrats and Republicans were on the ballot, Justice Department officials said Tuesday.

The 34-year-old mail carrier told investigators that he did not have a political agenda and that he tossed other mail when he ditched the ballots, Melissa Holyoak, U.S. attorney for the District of Utah, said. She said roughly 95% of voters do so by mail in the state, and it wasn’t clear yet whether they were able to eventually cast ballots.

According to a government memo, Damon Matai Seei told investigators that he wanted to toss out advertisements to “lighten his workload” after feeling overwhelmed.

“He claims he simply made a ‘poor decision’ out of ‘frustration’ and ‘laziness,’” the memo said. He didn’t intend to toss any ballots, they said. Seei is no longer with the U.S. Postal Service. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of destruction and delay of mail.

Justice Department officials held a news conference in Washington to announce the charge as part of its efforts to promote “election integrity.” Federal prosecutors have made…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health