Democrat and Peekskill Common Council member and Housing Authority Board member Rob Scott, 44, has been arrested and charged with forging signatures of deceased voters on his election petition.
Scott tried to bump up his numbers to secure a spot on the ballot for the Westchester County Board of Legislators, which ultimately backfired.
The Democrat’s attempt to challenge incumbent County Legislator Colin Smith for the Democratic nomination in last year’s primary fell flat on its face when the County Board of Elections invalidated a large large portion of his petition signatures because they were not alive.
Out of the 531 signatures Scott submitted, 217 were deemed fraudulent.
After Scott was busted, he was left with well below the required threshold to qualify for the ballot.
A press release said:
“This morning, the City of Peekskill learned Councilman Rob Scott was charged by the Westchester County District Attorney with filing false documents.”
“The City understands that this is a serious charge, and that information is currently developing.”
“The City will address and comment once more information becomes available.”
Scott knowingly submitted petitions with forged signatures, according to the allegations.
The forged signature included those individuals who confirmed they had never signed any document for Scott.
The discovery was made following an investigation initiated by the DA’s office following complaints.
The matter was then escalated to a criminal case, with Scott facing felony charges for filing false documents.
The Gateway Pundit reported:
County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced that Scott had been arrested and charged with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree; penalties for this Class E felony carry a potential jail term of four years.
Scott’s arraignment is scheduled later this month on April 30.
At the time, Scott said he was shocked to learn that people had emerged to state they had not signed the petitions that he had witnessed.
“This is like stuff you see on TV, you know?” Scott said.
“It’s like stuff you see in the movies.”
Smith called on Scott to resign.
“Although I am disheartened at the news of Councilman Scott’s arrest, I applaud the district attorney’s office for taking a strong stance on public integrity,” said Smith.
“Our elected officials must be held to a higher standard. Let this arrest serve as a warning to those who would attempt to subvert the rule of law for their own selfish gain that such self-serving behavior will not be tolerated. Councilman Scott should immediately resign.”
Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie said it was too soon to take that stand just a day after Scott’s arrest.
“I believe that the judicial process should play out as intended and I will withhold any judgement until I have more information,” she said.
Scott is the second Democratic official in Westchester to be charged with election fraud crimes.
As Lohud reported:
“In September of 2023, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh charged former Mount Kisco Democratic Committee Chairman William Serratore with second-degree forgery and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument as well as first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
Walsh took that case after Rocah recused herself. In October, Serratore pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a forged instrument, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to three years probation, said Rockland DA spokesman Scott Waters.”
