Man Indicted for Fake Election News Release

The email falsely said that one of the candidates had dropped out

A New Hampshire man has been indicted on voter suppression charges after sending out a fake news release earlier this year saying that a candidate for a House seat in a special election had dropped out of the race.

Carl Gibson, 28, of 26 Summit St., Concord was indicted by a Merrimack County grand jury on charges of voter suppression and attempted voter suppression. Both charges are felony offenses carrying a maximum sentence of 3-1/2 to 7 years in state prison and a $4,000 fine.

The indictments allege that Gibson "knowingly attempted to induce, or induced" voters to refrain from voting in the May 19, 2015, special election for state representative in Rockingham District 32, representing Candia, Deerfield, Northwood and Nottingham.

Gibson allegedly issued a false press release on May 14 saying that Republcian Yvonne Dean-Bailey was dropping out of the race, leaving voters with the impression that the special election was uncontested. 

Bailey went on to win the election by a close margin over Democrat Maureen Mann.

Gibson worked on Mann's campaign. He told the Concord Monitor that he "probably had one too many beers" before sending out the false email.

Contact Us