Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has taken decisive action against illegal voting following the arrest of three non-citizen women accused of casting ballots in recent elections. The investigation was initiated earlier this year when federal officials flagged discrepancies between voter records and citizenship statuses, prompting Griffin’s office to delve deeper.
Working closely with Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, investigators uncovered cases that warranted serious legal repercussions. All three women now face felony charges for violating Arkansas’s election laws, with two also being charged with perjury for allegedly misrepresenting their citizenship when registering to vote.
Cecilia Castellanos, a 59-year-old Cuban national from Rogers, was arrested on one count of perjury, classified as a Class C felony, alongside a Class D felony charge for violating election laws. Castellanos has a complex legal history, under a pending order of removal dating back to 1999, and three prior felony convictions in New York state. Authorities allege she falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on her voter registration form and voted illegally in the 2024 general election.
Another individual, Zlata Risley, 50, from Hot Springs Village, faces a Class D felony charge for casting a ballot as a lawful permanent resident but not a U.S. citizen. Her voting in the 2024 primary election has drawn significant scrutiny.
Chi Baum, a 59-year-old Nigerian woman residing in Texarkana, also faces substantial charges, including perjury and election law violations. Like Castellanos, Baum holds conditional permanent resident status but is not a U.S. citizen. She is accused of falsely asserting her citizenship when registering to vote and voting in the 2024 general election.
In announcing these arrests, Attorney General Griffin underscored the state’s commitment to upholding election integrity. He affirmed, “Arkansas’s elections are sound and secure, which is why we deal swiftly and decisively when rare infractions like these come to our attention. I am committed to preserving the integrity of our democratic process.” His statement reflects a serious stance against any threats to the electoral system.
Griffin highlighted the collaborative efforts of his office’s Special Investigations Division and local prosecutors, emphasizing the importance of tackling claims of illegal voting. “Investigators in my office have arrested three noncitizens for illegally voting in our elections despite not having the status to do so,” he wrote in a post on X. “This investigation began earlier this year when federal officials notified us about certain voters in Arkansas whose voting records appeared to be incongruent with their citizenship status.”
Secretary of State Cole Jester joined in condemning illegal voting, asserting, “American elections are for American citizens. Anything less is totally unacceptable. I am deeply thankful for Attorney General Tim Griffin’s diligent investigation of these crimes, and I am proud to have partnered with his team.” This collaboration signals a concerted effort to ensure that only eligible voters participate in the electoral process.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the ramifications of these arrests will likely extend beyond the individuals involved, reinforcing ongoing discussions about election security and the need for vigilance within the voter registration process.
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