By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Department of Justice has alleged that Smartmatic executives, indicted last year on bribery and money-laundering charges, transferred funds from a 2018 Los Angeles County voting machine contract into slush funds previously used for bribing election officials in Venezuela and the Philippines. Prosecutors are seeking to prove these funds were part of a larger pattern of bribery. Fox News, involved in a separate defamation lawsuit, asserts that LA County’s registrar-recorder, Dean Logan, may have received unreported gifts from the company. This could link to a broader scheme including overcharging customers and using the excess to pay bribes in other countries.
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DoJ says voting machine maker funneled LA county money into slush funds used to pay bribes, which on its face is a pretty serious accusation. But as we start to unpack it, things quickly become complicated and, frankly, a bit suspicious. The core of the claim is that Smartmatic, a company that makes voting machines, allegedly used money from a 2018 contract with Los Angeles County to fund slush funds used to bribe officials in Venezuela and the Philippines. This, according to the Justice Department, is a pattern of behavior designed to secure and maintain lucrative election contracts.
The timing of this accusation, though, is raising eyebrows, especially considering the source. We are talking about the Department of Justice here, and in the current political climate, there’s a pervasive distrust of just about everything coming from that direction. It feels like another salvo in an ongoing political battle, rather than a genuine pursuit of justice. The fact that the former president seems to have a vested interest in discrediting voting machines only adds fuel to the fire. The suggestion is that this might be a move to prepare the ground for future actions or claims related to elections.
It’s worth noting that the alleged bribery itself seems to have taken place outside of the United States, specifically targeting officials in Venezuela and the Philippines. The focus, as per the reporting, appears to be on securing contracts for Smartmatic’s machines in those markets. This immediately raises questions about the legal jurisdiction and how the US government even has a foot to stand on, unless the money itself was laundered. It seems less like an issue of vote tampering and more of a case of international business practices that could probably be considered corruption.
And of course, let’s not forget the elephant in the room: the constant stream of accusations of misinformation and election fraud that has been floating around. Smartmatic has already been embroiled in legal battles, winning big after being falsely accused of influencing the 2020 election. This is likely to result in yet another lawsuit for the voting machine maker. The fact that the claims in this case are being investigated is further adding to the climate of distrust and the general question of whether the DOJ is being impartial.
The core of the situation doesn’t feel very different from classic lobbying practices – actions which are very common in many governments, even the US. The DOJ’s actions seems to be based more on marketing, with the specific claim of using funds “unethically.” The whole situation appears to be messy and potentially opportunistic.
Given the current atmosphere and the history of this particular administration, trust is a major sticking point. The idea that this accusation is being made with an ulterior motive feels very plausible to many, further eroding faith in the justice system itself. The underlying question becomes: is this about justice, or is it about scoring political points?
The details also start to get messy. Allegedly, a Smartmatic executive transferred money from a Los Angeles County contract. It’s the DOJ which is saying this, so that naturally puts doubt into the minds of many people. This does not make sense, which makes people feel like there is some form of dishonesty.
It all boils down to this: in an environment where trust is already at a premium, and with a history of questionable actions and motivations, it’s almost impossible to approach these accusations with an open mind. The DoJ’s claim that Smartmatic funneled LA County money into slush funds feels like a distraction and possibly an attempt to discredit voting machines in anticipation of upcoming elections. The public may be cynical, but the legal battles and political ramifications are sure to be anything but.