Smartmatic Executives Accused of Systematic Overbilling in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County prosecutors have alleged that Smartmatic, a U.K.-headquartered election technology company, systematically overbilled the county for voting machines used in the 2020 election, creating a "slush fund" for bribing government officials. The company is involved in a multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which falsely reported that Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 election. Federal prosecutors claim that bribery was part of the company's business model, with alleged schemes occurring in the Philippines and Venezuela.

Key Takeaways:

• Prosecutors allege that Smartmatic added a surplus fee of $10 to $50 per machine sent to Los Angeles County, with these funds designated for bribes.
• The company is accused of creating a "slush fund" for bribing government officials, with the recipients of the alleged misuse of county taxpayer money not yet identified.
• Dean Logan, the county's top voting official, has reported having regular meetings with Smartmatic co-founder Roger Alejandro Piñate Martinez, despite the company's claims that it operates ethically and abides by all laws.
• The federal corruption case against Smartmatic employees is ongoing, with prosecutors to present financial and business records, witness testimony, and electronic communications to strengthen their case.
• A spokesperson for the registrar-recorder's office claimed that no evidence was found of the surplus charges alleged by federal prosecutors, and the price of machines always remained the same.
• Smartmatic spokesperson Samira Saba accused the Department of Justice of filing the motion with misrepresentations that were "untethered from reality," while the company asserted that it operates ethically and abides by all laws.
• L.A. County's Logan faces separate civil allegations that he benefited from a close relationship with company management, including upscale dinners and a trip to Taiwan.