On Park Marina Avenue in Shasta County, roughly twenty residents assembled outside the Sheriff’s Office this afternoon with signs pleading for help from President Trump and urging Sheriff Michael Johnson to act on claims of fraudulent ballots from the June primary. The demonstrators, who identify as supporters of Measure B and the county’s elections official Clint Curtis, sought to pressure local law enforcement to seize and authenticate ballots that Curtis says are being held in a locked room at the Market Street elections office.
Demonstration organizer’s call for action
“We need somebody to take these ballots,” said Dan Ladd, the organizer of the rally, referring to the ballots locked upstairs by Curtis in hopes of federal intervention. Ladd and other participants argued that the ballots represent a breach of voter integrity and that the sheriff should intervene, even though state law limits the sheriff’s authority in election matters.
Self‑identified White House reporter adds to the fray
During the protest, a self‑described journalist, Corinne Clifford, approached the crowd, claiming membership in the White House press corps and stating she had contacted federal authorities to investigate the ballot allegations. Clifford made unverified statements, including that the McConnell Foundation has ties to antifa and that county supervisors are corrupt for not funding a defense against state litigation over Measure B, a newly enacted Shasta law. She urged the crowd to rely on militias, the Second Amendment, and retired military personnel if federal investigators do not act.
County and sheriff response
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on Facebook shortly before the demonstration, indicating that Sheriff Johnson is aware of the “controversy” surrounding Curtis and the ballots and believes the FBI is already investigating. The release urged the public to be patient and await the results of that investigation, warning that a second local inquiry could complicate an existing process.
County officials also pushed back against Curtis’s claims. A press release from the county board of supervisors labeled Curtis’s allegations as “frivolous” and condemned his conduct, inviting state and federal agencies to review his statements and actions as the county’s elections official.
Measure B funding proposal
During the protest, Measure B proponent Laura Hobbs announced that Supervisor Corkey Harmon had agreed to provide funding for the authentication of the alleged suspect ballots, a claim that was met with cheers. Harmon confirmed the funding offer, though details on how the authentication would be carried out remain unclear.
Clifford praised Harmon as a “hero” and said she would work to make introductions that could bring the ballot issue to the federal level. She added, “The next time I see President Trump in person, I’ll tell him we have alleged counterfeit fake ballots, and I’ll hold everyone accountable for not helping the good people of Shasta County get their ballots investigated.”
Legal context
The call for the sheriff to seize the ballots raises legal questions, as state law generally restricts local law‑enforcement involvement in election investigations. A similar move by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco earlier this year is currently being contested in the California Supreme Court.
As the situation develops, county officials continue to emphasize the importance of following established legal channels and awaiting the outcome of any federal inquiry, while supporters of Measure B and President Trump remain vocal in demanding immediate action.
Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.
