District attorney passes on Meadows voter fraud investigation

Mar. 18—District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch, who recused herself from investigating voter fraud allegations against former U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, has dropped the issue into the hands of N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein, who is a Democrat.

Meadows, a four-term GOP Congressman representing Western North Carolina, resigned in December 2019 to become U.S. President Donald Trump's chief of staff.

A March 6 New Yorker article alleging both Meadows and his wife Debbie cast absentee ballots in 2020 from an address in Macon County where they did not live sparked speculations of voter fraud and a media frenzy across the nation.

Welch, who is a Republican and the chief prosecutor for crimes committed in the 43rd Prosecutorial District, sent a letter Monday to the N.C. Justice Department prosecutor Leslie Dismukes, about her decision.

Her office sent out a news release regarding the decision Thursday.

"After careful consideration and review of the North Carolina State Bar rules, I feel that my office has a conflict of interest pursuant to North Carolina State Bar Rule 1.7 resulting in the recusal of my office," Welch wrote. "I am requesting the Attorney General's Office handle both the advisement of law enforcement agencies as to any criminal investigation as well as any potential prosecution of Mark Meadows."

Welch said that in late 2014, Meadows made a financial contribution to her political campaign and appeared in several political advertisements endorsing her bid for district attorney.

"The allegations in this case involve potential crimes committed by a government official. Historically, I have requested the Attorney General's Office to handle prosecutions involving alleged misconduct of government officials. It is in the best interest of justice and the best interest of the people of North Carolina that the Attorney General's office handle the prosecution of this case," she concluded.

National media reports late Thursday stated Stein's office has requested the State Bureau of Investigation look into the voter fraud issue and indicated he will review the findings.