By Debra Heine
Dominion Voting Systems Thursday
night abruptly backed out of attending a fact-finding hearing that was
set for Friday morning with the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee.
At a press conference Friday morning, State Govt
Committee Chair Seth Grove said the 1.3. million Pennsylvanians who used
Dominion’s voting machines have been “hung out to dry and slapped in their
faces.”
Pennsylvania lawmakers had scheduled the hearing with the
voting machine manufacturer “to help identify and correct any irregularities in
the election process,” according to the House
Republican Caucus.
“It is vitally important voters have faith in the
machines they use to cast their ballots. On the heels of Gov. Tom Wolf
unilaterally decertifying every voting machine in the Commonwealth, we need
to know whether these new machines met expectations, whether they are reliable
and whether they are not subject to interference,” said Rep. Grove (R-York).
Dominion had initially agreed to attend the hearing,
before it “abruptly canceled,” Grove said.
“I was impressed at what appeared to be the willingness
that Dominion Voting Systems to address accusations and it would have put 1.3.
million Pennsylvanians who used their machines at ease—including myself,
thinking that Dominion was willing to publicly back up their product which PA
taxpayers invested millions to purchase” he noted during the presser. “Unfortunately,
last evening, Dominion Voting Systems lawyered up, and backed out of their
commitment to the people of Pennsylvania to provide their input in a public
format.”
Grove blasted the company for “retreating into the
darkness,” rather than appearing at the hearing with “honesty and
integrity.”
The committee chair said he wanted to know why a company
with nothing to hide would back out.
“Why would a vender of public goods fear discussing their
product sold to the public for the public good? If Dominion’s products were
successful and operated as they were supposed to, why wouldn’t Dominion take
the opportunity to publicly review its success?” Grove demanded. “How hard is
it to say, ‘our ballot machines worked exactly as promised and they’re 100
percent accurate’?”
“After weeks of accusations, why has Dominion
Voting Systems not released any analysis of the success of its voting machines
to the public in order to stop their accusers in their tracks? If they have
nothing to hide, why are they hiding from us?” he asked.
“Today I am saddened to report to the taxpayers of
Pennsylvania and the 1.3 million voters who trusted Dominion Voting Systems
with their ballots, that Dominion Voting Systems has hung you out to dry and
slapped you in your faces.” the committee chair declared.
Grove stated that Dominion’s behavior lent credibility to
their accusers’ accusations.
Rep. Dawn Keefer noted that fourteen counties
used the Dominion Voting Systems software, so they owe it to Pennsylvania
voters to show up and answer some questions.
“We trust the workers in our polling places and in our
counties,” Keefer said. “But what we don’t know is the role of 3rd party
companies. And when they rescind their participation in our hearing, we’re left
wondering why.”
Keefer added: “Transparency is key for our election
security. Dominion Voting Software is asking us to give them only blind trust. We’re
very disappointed in Dominion’s last minute cancelation in today’s hearing.
