Bribery Scandal Reignites Scrutiny Over Voting Tech
New allegations have surfaced involving Smartmatic, a global voting technology company, over an alleged bribery and money-laundering scheme connected to its contract with Los Angeles County. The contract, originally signed in 2018 and valued at nearly $300 million, is now under federal investigation.
The core of the accusations centers around the diversion of contract funds into secret accounts and shell companies. Prosecutors claim that some of this money was used to bribe foreign officials in countries such as Venezuela and the Philippines.
Smartmatic Executives Under Fire
Three senior executives from Smartmatic, including a co-founder, have been indicted. Investigators allege they inflated the cost of services and used fake invoices to channel funds into private offshore accounts. While the scheme involved funds from the LA County deal, there is currently no evidence that any LA County officials received bribes or were directly involved in the misconduct.
LA County Officials Not Implicated — Yet
So far, prosecutors have not charged or accused anyone from Los Angeles County of wrongdoing. However, questions have been raised about the nature of the company’s relationship with local election officials. Reports suggest that Smartmatic may have provided luxury travel and gifts to one top official, who insists all activities were fully disclosed and above board.
Broader Legal Fallout
This scandal unfolds as Smartmatic remains in a high-profile $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against a major U.S. news outlet. The timing of the bribery revelations could impact that case, with critics questioning the company’s credibility and oversight.
