Arizona election worker arrested after allegedly stealing security key fob for voting tabulator in Maricopa County

CNN
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A temporary election worker in Arizona was arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing a security fob and keys from the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center, according to court documents obtained by CNN.

Arizona, and specifically Maricopa County, has been a hotbed of election conspiracy theories since 2020. The Arizona Secretary of State's office said in a statement Monday that Maricopa officials' identification this security incident showed that election security protocols in the county were working. This came amid fears the incident could be used to further stoke conspiracy theories in the state.

The sheriff of the county of Maricopa, Russ Skinner, told journalists on Tuesday at a press conference in Phoenix that the authorities “have no indication at this stage” that the incident was politically motivated, but that they ” did not exclude it.

Walter Ringfield, who reported to police as a temporary worker at the compilation center, faces charges of theft and criminal damage. He remains in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office pending his next court appearance due to an unrelated pending criminal case against him, a local official confirmed to CNN.

According to court documents, Ringfield was captured on surveillance video walking past a desk and several tabulators just after 5 p.m. local time on June 20.

Surveillance video then shows Ringfield stopping at the desk, grabbing a lanyard with the security fob and keys attached, and placing them in his pocket, according to court documents.

Ringfield was confronted by his election supervisor about taking the key fob and security keys, and he allowed security to search his car. Arizona detectives eventually executed a search warrant at Ringfield's home, where the key fob was located.

Bill Gates, a Maricopa County supervisor, said during Tuesday's news conference that the key fob was recovered during a test of tabulation machines in preparation for the July 30 state primary. The key fob is part of a multi-layered security process and it alone would not be able to turn on a tabulating machine, Gates said.

Gates said officials notified the county Republican and Democratic parties about the incident. He insisted it “should have no bearing” on the primaries.

According to investigators, security key fobs are used in conjunction with special secure tablets during elections. Because one was removed, each key fob and tablet must be reprogrammed, according to court documents.

An elections office director told investigators the estimated cost of replacing remote controls and security tablets would be more than $19,000.

“The safe operation of the facility is greatly hampered until the reprogramming is completed,” court documents note.

Skinner said Tuesday that investigators were still reviewing digital evidence and items seized via a search warrant. Skinner said investigators are also looking at the suspect's social media and they “don't have anything that's necessarily related to anything beyond what we have at this point.”

During his first court appearance on Saturday, Ringfield was informed that he would remain in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for Thursday, due to another criminal case pending against him, the video of his indictment. Ringfield seemed surprised when the judge informed him of the other pending case and said it was his understanding that the unrelated case had already been resolved.

It was not immediately clear whether Ringfield had an attorney.

In a statement to CNN, the Arizona Secretary of State's office said the incident at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center “should reassure the public that security measures in place are effective.” place “.

“Our systems are not only designed to detect anomalies, but are also supported by dedicated professionals committed to upholding the democratic process. While this event is unwelcome, it is a testament to the effectiveness of the security protocols built into Arizona’s election systems,” the release said.

“The quick actions of Maricopa County election staff, including repeat logic and accuracy testing, provide additional layers of protection for all affected equipment. This rapid response will avoid any potential impact on the upcoming elections,” the office added.

This story has been updated with additional information.