Congressman McHenry's Campaign Aide Indicted

By: Michael Rey
Topics: Under Investigation

By Laura Strickler and Michael Rey
The CBS News Investigative Unit has learned a man who was a field coordinator in Congressman Patrick McHenry's (R-NC) 2004 campaign has been indicted for voter fraud in North Carolina.

The indictment charges that Michael Aaron Lay, 26, illegally cast his ballot in two 2004 Congressional primary run-offs in which McHenry was a candidate. The charges indicate that Lay voted in a district where it was not legal for him to vote.

At the time Lay was listed as a resident in a home owned by 32-year-old McHenry but campaign records indicate Lay's paychecks were sent to an address in Tennessee. McHenry won the primary by only 86 votes. According to Gaston County, North Carolina District Attorney Locke Bell, Lay was indicted on Monday, May 7 by a local grand jury.

CBS News has learned that these charges were first investigated by the North Carolina State Board of Elections up to two years ago. The results were forwarded to the previous Gaston County District Attorney Mike Lands. In January, Bell was elected the new district attorney for the county and pursued the indictment.

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by book54552134 May 14, 2007 5:52 AM EDT: The problem in the US is election fraud, not voter fraud.
Until all voting precincts throughout the US with computerized voting machines are equipped with paper trails so that votes and tabulation processes can be tracked and verified should any questions develop, the public will not be able to trust the outcome of such elections and the American electoral process will remain under suspect.; Reply to this comment


by deificus May 13, 2007 12:11 PM EDT: Talk about a political bias. CBS throws mud on Congressman McHenry's entire campaign because a single person on his campaign staff voted in two districts. Really, just go ahead and discount his vote and officially claim McHenry won by 85 votes instead of 86.

I check out the article expecting to see some rigged voting machines, or someone telling elderly people there's a "new voting method this year, it's called elimination voting." Maybe even a few million hanging chads; that would inspire some warm memories of yesteryear, wouldn't it?

This article is ridiculous...; Reply to this comment


by May 13, 2007 11:22 AM EDT: Yes. This is news. Voter fraud is Voter Fraud and its a felony. Comparing it to Paris Hilton who's charges are misdemeanor's is not valid. Comparing it to O'donnel is ridiculous because last I looked - even though I don't care for O'Donnel - she's committed no crimes, but just uses her first amendment right of free speach, (I'm not sure what that is, but it comes from this thing that I heard was called a constitution - something Republicans ignore and would like thrown away).

I'm also so tired of Republican's boo-hooing about how they are being picked on because they're republican. The republican party has become a joke. Look. The bottom line is, this guy broke the law, committed a felony, and is now going to be indicted. Stop boo-hooing because he happens to be republican, (no surprise there though). If it was a democrat who committed voter fraud, I want to see his butt in the slammer too. It's time to stop boo-hooing about the criminal's party affiliation and crack down on any and all of them. Its time to clean up this government and stop complaining about what party he came from.; Reply to this comment


by May 13, 2007 9:58 AM EDT: Yes. This is news. Voter fraud is Voter Fraud and its a felony. Comparing it to Paris Hilton who's charges are misdemeanor's is not valid. Comparing it to O'donnel is ridiculous because last I looked - even though I don't care for O'Donnel - she's committed no crimes, but just uses her first amendment right of free speach, (I'm not sure what that is, but it comes from this thing that I heard was called a constitution - something Republicans ignore and would like thrown away).

I'm also so tired of Republican's boo-hooing about how they are being picked on because they're republican. The republican party has become a joke. Look. The bottom line is, this guy broke the law, committed a felony, and is now going to be indicted. Stop boo-hooing because he happens to be republican, (no surprise there though). If it was a democrat who committed voter fraud, I want to see his butt in the slammer too. It's time to stop boo-hooing about the criminal's party affiliation and crack down on any and all of them. Its time to clean up this government and stop complaining about what party he came from.; Reply to this comment


by cpaide May 13, 2007 12:59 AM EDT: Nice story. Now keep the ball rolling by doing a piece on the massive voter fraud in California & elsewhere due to illegal aliens voting in state and local elections.; Reply to this comment


by slipster01 May 12, 2007 9:05 PM EDT: This is news? One person's vote is news? Since WHEN? This is like Paris Hilton is news, or Rosie O'Donnel is news, or Jane Fonda is news. (which none of them are).

Only because it's a Republican is it news.; Reply to this comment


by mrwayneking May 12, 2007 7:21 PM EDT: Chairman Wayne King statement in regards to former McHenry aide

Kings Mountain, NC- Cleveland County Republican Party Chairman Wayne King issued the following statement in regards to the recent indictment of former McHenry for Congress aide, Aaron Lay.

King stated, %u201CIn 2004, I supported Patrick McHenry's campaign for Congress. In fact, I
often went to his house in Cherryville to volunteer for the campaign. I can
personally attest that Mr. Aaron Lay resided there on a full-time basis. Aaron
is a good friend of mine, and it's shameful that District Attorney Locke
Bell is trying to destroy his life for political purposes. I continue to support Congressman McHenry.%u201D; Reply to this comment


by grnc May 12, 2007 7:20 PM EDT: Assertions by NC Politico naming me as having been "served a warrant for illegal activites" are libelous. I have never been served a criminal warrant by Sheriff David Huffman nor anyone else, nor have I engaged in such activities. I have asked CBS to retain sender information for possible litigation.

As North Carolina's primary Second Amendment organization, the GRNC Political Victory Fund engaged a radio and mail campaign for McHenry over Huffman because Huffman, just months after securing our endorsement for re-election, acted in his capacity as Chairman of the NC Sheriffs' Assoc. Legislative Committee to endorse HB 1275, which would have shut down gun shows and subjected private firearms transfers to registration by the FBI via the National Instant Check System.

By contrast, McHenry had a perfect conservative voting record in the NC House.

The only whackos here are the ones who spread lies.

F. Paul Valone
President, Grass Roots North Carolina; Reply to this comment


by hemingway9 May 12, 2007 5:50 PM EDT: As a resident of eastern North Carolina, Wayne County, I have followed McHenry career with utter dismay. He has proven to be one of the most incompetent of representatives for the State. During the Foley scandal, he actually had the audacity to say that what was really important was "What did Pelosi know and when did she know it?" Yes, in dealing with a sexual predator Rep. Mchenry thought it best to worry about Nancy Pelosi. However, he was just following orders from the RNC and White House, which is why is a detestable representative. So my response to GRNC comment, is why in the world would CBS spend time to "taint" a low level Republican synchopant whose only talent is reciting Republican talking points ad nauseum. I think GRNC overestimates Mchenry's talent and importance. Prehaps, Rep. McHenry should pay more attention to the citizens of NC instead of trying desperately (and I do mean desperately) to move up the Republican ranks. He works for us, not them.; Reply to this comment


by clintatl May 12, 2007 5:47 PM EDT: McHenry is a liar who will do whatever it takes to win -- Including hiding his gay lifestyle from his constituents in order to get their vote.; Reply to this comment