Former Republican candidate who pledged to 'restore trust' in elections arrested for stealing ballots

An Indiana man who ran for Congress this twelvemonth and promised to 'restore trust' successful elections has been arrested and charged pinch stealing ballots during a trial of voting machines.

Larry Savage Jr., 51, ran successful nan Republican Primary for Indiana's 5th Congressional District, successful which he vanished successful sixth spot pinch little than 2 percent of nan vote.

Savage ran arsenic a self-described 'common man' who would 'restore spot and protect civilian rights' successful 'fair, transparent elections.'

He had been elected arsenic a section statement leader to be a nationalist voting instrumentality trial connected October 3 successful Madison County.

Four voting machines were tested retired pinch 136 ballots but 2 had gone missing. Surveillance video showed Savage taking them, folding them and putting them into his pocket. 

State constabulary recovered nan ballots successful Savage's car aft executing a hunt warrant, Fox 59 reported.

Savage based on to authorities that he only took nan ballots because he had been told by an charismatic astatine nan arena that they were fake.

'You talking astir nan ballot nan woman told maine I could take,' Savage said, according to nan charging documents. 

'I sewage nan insubstantial you're talking about. I conscionable rolled it up and put it successful my pocket. I wasn't trying to bargain from nobody.'

However, nan attendees were told by nan charismatic connected nan surveillance video: 'They are unrecorded ballots. They are unrecorded predetermination ballots.' 

It was besides revealed that aft he'd taken nan ballots, Savage told authorities auditor campaigner and chap Republican Katherine Callahan: ''f***ed up count.' 

He besides reportedly made respective posts connected someone's Facebook Live watercourse to nan aforesaid effect.  

Officers asked Savage why he put nan ballots successful his pouch if he thought they were free to take.

County prosecutors opportunity he responded by stating 'that he wasn't going to incriminate himself.' 

Savage past claimed that he didn't person plans to do thing untoward pinch nan ballots and would've fixed them backmost if he'd known he wasn't expected to.

However, a hunt of Savage's compartment telephone records reveals he texted Callahan, asking: 'Sis they opportunity thing astir nan ballots I took?' 

A warrant was issued for Savage's apprehension connected Monday. A time later, he turned himself in, according to nan Indy Star.

He faces 1 complaint of destroying aliases misplacing a ballot and 1 complaint of theft.

The voting instrumentality institution said that Savage engaged successful 'sabotage of nan nationalist trial and their voting equipment.' 

The state's Republican Party has now condemned nan man who said he ran arsenic a 'MAGA candidate.'

'We unequivocally condemn immoderate shape of criminal predetermination interference,' Griffin Reid said successful a statement. 

'We admit rule enforcement's efforts successful pursuing justness and we will proceed to show this business arsenic nan process unfolds.' 

Savage appears to person responded to nan apprehension connected Facebook, wherever he has made his screen photograph his ain mugshot.

He wrote connected 1 post: 'The truth is gonna travel out!'