Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced charges against former Atlantic City Council President Craig Callaway, saying he orchestrated a major mail-in voting fraud operation aimed at impacting a 2022 Congressional election on behalf of the Democratic Party.
Authorities say Callaway and unidentified conspirators illegally paid voters $30-50 to apply for mail ballots posing as “messengers,” submitted those ballot requests, and then cast many of the ballots without voters’ consent.
The voting fraud scheme occurred around Oct. 2022, authorities said.
U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger condemned the conduct, stating: “As alleged in the complaint, the defendant attempted to deprive New Jersey residents of a fair election by fraudulently procuring and casting ballots. Today’s charges reflect our office’s commitment to hold to account those who try to undermine the electoral process.”
The charges potentially tie to work Callaway conducted for Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s 2022 re-election campaign.
Prosecutors have not said whether Van Drew had direct knowledge of the allged voting fraud scheme. His campaign paid Callaway’s firm $65,500 last fall for “strategic consulting,” including $25,000 in early October when authorities said the voting fraud conspiracy happened.
Van Drew’s team denied awareness and noted Callaway signed contracts forbidding illegal practices.
“We never have and never would condone any illegal activity,” they claimed.
Authorities did not detain Callaway pre-trial, but imposed $50,000 bond and release conditions including no contact with case-related parties. He made no immediate comment through his attorney, Megan Davies.
Callaway faces up to five years imprisonment, $250,000 fines, and three years supervised release if convicted for the alleged voting fraud scheme.
This follows his prior federal convictions for accepting construction bribes as council president in 2006 and blackmailing officials in 2008 while still serving time.
In 2017, Atlantic City’s then-mayor Don Guardian accused Callaway of similar ballot harvesting scheme benefiting another Democratic mayoral candidate.
The illegal voting fraud scheme was an open secret among local politicians, said Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman.
“It’s no secret that candidates from both parties have hired Callaway in the past to help them win elections. Those who hired him cannot plead ignorance now.”
“Everyone in Atlantic County knows exactly what Callaway’s operation is and the blatant illegality of it all,” said Suleiman.
The Horn editorial team