Mark Harris’ son warned him about operative in North Carolina scandal – POLITICO

Elections

In emotional testimony Wednesday, the son of North Carolina Republican Mark Harris said he warned his father about the absentee ballot strategy used by Leslie McCrae Dowless, the political operative now at the center of an election fraud scandal in the state’s 9th Congressional District.

John Harris testified before the North Carolina State Election Board Wednesday about allegations of election fraud. Though Mark Harris led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes in the unofficial ballot count on election night in November 2018, the election board refused to certify a winner, pointing to the accusations of fraud.

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John Harris, an attorney himself, said early on he was suspicious of Dowless’ operation and shared his thoughts with his father and mother. John’s testimony appears to refute comments made by his father that he was never warned about Dowless, who held prior felony convictions of fraud and perjury.

After Mark met with Dowless, John sent his father an email on April 7, 2017, that included text of the law on the illegality of collecting a person’s absentee ballot.

“Good test is if you’re comfortable with the full process he uses being broadcast on the news,” John emailed his father as Mark Harris contemplated hiring Dowless.

John said he believed his father’s mind was already made up despite his warnings.

John added that there’s no reason for him to believe his father, mother or anyone else within the Harris campaign knew what Dowless was doing.

“I raised red flags at the time the decision was made to hire Mr. Dowless,” said John, whose testimony dominated the third day of the hearing.

“I love my dad and I love my mom. I certainly have no vendetta against them, no family scores to settle,” John said, holding back tears. “I think that they made mistakes in this process and they certainly did things differently than I would have done them.”

After investigating the fraud allegations, the board began its evidentiary hearing this week. A state election board official kicked off the proceedings Monday by presenting evidence that implicated Dowless in an illegal absentee ballot collection “scheme.” State officials and individuals employed by Dowless testified that Dowless illegally paid people to collect and manipulate ballots.

Mark Harris is set to start the fourth day of testimony on Thursday. It is unclear if the board will conclude its proceedings Thursday or stretch into a fifth day. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the board is expected to either vote for a new election, certify a winner or potentially reach an impasse.