Fireworks fill first day of NC9 investigation hearing, Dowless declines taking the stand
Source: WBTV
Here are the latest updates from Monday testimony in the NC 9 Investigation hearing:
5:45 p.m.: Board has reconvened. Dowless will not receive immunity if he testifies. Dowless is not taking the stand. Hearing wraps for the day.
5:40 p.m.: McCrae Dowless has been called as a witness. Dowless’ attorney said he will testify if he receives immunity as contemplated under the statute. Says otherwise he will not take stand. McCready attorney Elias says he should take stand to invoke 5thA. Board conferring w/ counsel.
4:25 p.m.: The next witness, Sandra Dowless, takes the stand. She is McCrae Dowless’ ex-wife and Lisa Britt’s mother. Sandra Dowless says McCrae was led a meeting in April, 2018, to help Jeff Smith with workers on his campain. Sandra Dowless says McCrae referred to the notes as his “insurance policy.” The writing in those notes matches the handwriting of Jeff Smith in a number of court records and other public documents. She says she doesn’t believe Smith and McCrae Dowless were working together in the ‘18 primary, and that she doesn’t know who the attendees of the April meeting were.
Sandra Dowless says she heard McCrae Dowless y’all w/ Mark Harris on speaker once. “I want you to know you’re way in the lead. Things are looking good here.” Says Harris asked how he’d know that and then asked if he had obtained data to inform that decision a legal way
Read more: http://www.wbtv.com/2019/02/19/fireworks-fill-first-day-nc-investigation-hearing-dowless-declines-taking-stand/
I spoke to Governor Cooper about this situation two weeks ago.
The five person Election Board is majority Democrat, and can by majority vote refuse to certify the Republican as the winner. However, it takes four votes (requiring concurrence by one Republican) to void the election and call for a new one. Absent that, the ultimate decision will reside with the US House of Representatives.
