D.J. Bettencourt Defends Fraudulent Voter Video

State House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt today defended the James O’Keefe video in which O’Keefe’s associates secretly videotaped themselves receiving ballots using the names of recently deceased registered voters.

Bettencourt questioned those who have called for the perpetrators of the hoax to be prosecuted by pointing out they “didn’t actually illegally vote.”

His statement puts him at odds with other Republican officials including New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Wayne MacDonald and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas. “They should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Gatsas.

For the record, it is a violation of Federal law to procure a fraudulent ballot. “Actually illegally” voting is not required.