Roger Piñate, the president and co-founder of Smartmatic, a major voting machine company, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery and money laundering. The indictment, unsealed on August 8, 2024, in the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Piñate and his associates engaged in a scheme to bribe a high-ranking election official in the Philippines in exchange for securing lucrative contracts for the company’s voting machines in the 2016 elections.
The charges against Piñate, a Venezuelan national residing in Boca Raton, Florida, stem from a series of payments allegedly made between 2015 and 2018. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Piñate, along with Jorge Miguel Vasquez, a U.S. citizen, and Elie Moreno, a Venezuelan associate, conspired to funnel over $1 million to Juan Andres Donato Bautista, the former chairman of the Philippines' Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The bribes were purportedly intended to ensure Smartmatic's voting machines were selected for use in the 2016 Philippine elections and to facilitate the payment of contracts, including the release of value-added tax (VAT) payments.
https://twitter.com/mwana_lugha/status/1821726816987381957
The indictment details how the conspirators created a slush fund by over-invoicing the cost of each voting machine provided for the election. This inflated pricing allowed the group to siphon off funds to pay bribes, which were hidden through coded language and fraudulent contracts. The DOJ stated that the scheme involved laundering money through bank accounts in Asia, Europe, and the United States, making it an international conspiracy that spanned multiple jurisdictions.
If convicted, Piñate and his co-defendants face severe penalties. Each of the four individuals charged in the case, including Bautista, could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for each count of money laundering. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about corruption and fraud in international elections, particularly in countries like the Philippines, where election integrity has been a persistent issue.
HOOORAY!!!!
🥳🎉🎉🥳🎉🥳
The President of Smartmatic Roger Pinate is indicted!!!
Check out his latest Linkedin Profile https://t.co/RZF7ztbgaw
This is a monumental celebration!!!https://t.co/3dmgOYTCAY pic.twitter.com/rzXI6HpO68
— Yehuda Miller (@yehuda_miller) August 8, 2024
Smartmatic, which has long been under scrutiny due to its ties to controversial regimes in Venezuela, is facing renewed criticism in light of these allegations. The company first gained prominence in the early 2000s after securing a contract to provide voting machines for the Venezuelan elections under Hugo Chávez. Since then, it has expanded its operations globally, providing election services in several countries, including the Philippines and the United States.
In response to the indictment, Smartmatic issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and expressing confidence that its executives would be exonerated. The company emphasized its commitment to transparency and integrity in its operations worldwide. However, this defense is unlikely to assuage critics, especially given the company's controversial history and the gravity of the charges.
The case against Piñate also has broader implications for the global election technology industry. With allegations of election tampering and fraud becoming increasingly prevalent, the integrity of voting systems is under intense scrutiny. The indictment of a high-ranking executive from one of the industry’s leading companies only adds fuel to the fire of those who question the reliability and security of electronic voting systems.
The timing of the indictment is particularly significant as Smartmatic is currently embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit against Fox News. The company is suing the network for $2.7 billion in damages, alleging that Fox News made defamatory statements about its role in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The new charges against Piñate could impact the ongoing litigation, further complicating Smartmatic’s legal battles.
