Lawsuit over alleged petition fraud sparks court battle in New York’s 17th District
Rep. Mike Lawler’s campaign is asking a judge to remove Democratic candidate Effie Phillips‑Staley from the primary ballot, while her team calls the challenge an attempt to undermine voters.
Two campaigns in New York’s 17th Congressional District are facing off in state Supreme Court over allegations of petition fraud, months ahead of the midterm elections.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and his campaign have filed a lawsuit against Democrat hopeful Effie Phillips‑Staley, seeking a judge’s ruling to remove her from the upcoming Democratic primary ballot because of invalid signatures. Lawler’s team argues that her petition signatures are “permeated with fraud,” pointing to the name of a Lawler campaign intern who was away at college at the time his signature was allegedly written. They say additional questionable signatures were also found.
“I think voters of the Hudson Valley certainly deserve to know if there is a congressional candidate on the ballot because of fraud.” He added, “I think the voters deserve the truth. If we had not filed suit, this truth would have not gotten out," said Ciro Riccardi, Lawler’s campaign manager.
Both campaigns met before Acting State Supreme Court Judge David Fried on Friday for hours of testimony.
John Tomlin, of the Phillips‑Staley campaign, argued that the lawsuit is an attempt to interfere with the democratic process.
“It’s exactly what Lawler is doing here. What he is trying to do is subvert the will of thousands of Democratic voters who have signed Effie’s petition and asked her to be on the ballot,” Tomlin said.
Arthur Schwartz, an attorney for the Phillips‑Staley campaign, said, “I think he’s doing it because he wants to smear Effie. He knows he’s not going to get her off the ballot.”
During testimony on Friday, a few individuals stated that signatures attributed to them were not theirs. Both campaigns also agreed to a stipulation that more than 800 signatures were invalid. Court documents show Phillips‑Staley submitted 2,900 signatures. She needs at least 1,250 valid signatures to qualify for the primary in June.
It remains unclear when Fried will issue a ruling.
