1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: Officials should be held to the same rules they enforced clearly. 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: Good morning. My name is Casey, that is Jim. Thanks 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: for being here on this Monday, beautiful day in store 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: for us. We whipped up seventy today. Yeah. 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 2: How nice was yesterday and we deserved it because we 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 2: had it. Seemed like it rained every second of the week. 7 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 2: Last week just a ton of rain, and we've got 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 2: more rain coming in the future. But yesterday was beautiful. 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 2: Today's going to be a beautiful Enjoy it. 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: So if you're the state's top election official, you know, 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: the one charged with fair, lawful elections, you shouldn't be 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: seen as using government resources for campaign material. We've got 13 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: to hold Diego Morales accountable. And this isn't party politics. 14 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: It's just making sure the office isn't used as a 15 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: political megaphone. 16 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 3: Here's the controversy. 17 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: Marion County Election Board claims the Secretary of State for Indiana, 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: Diego Morales broke ethics laws, and now the Marion County 19 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: Election Board has referred him to the Inspector General over 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: this alleged misuse of state resources in a campaign ad. 21 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: He's now barred from non public areas of the Election 22 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: Service center. The guy in charge of elections is barred. 23 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: Let me repeat that, Yeah, please do. 24 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: The guy in charge of the state elections is barred 25 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: from non public areas of the Election service center. 26 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 3: Yeah that sounds like that's a problem. Yeah, it's not 27 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 3: really a good look. 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: So if election officials use government resources for campaign content, 29 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: it clearly undercuts the very election integrity they claim to defend. 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 3: He should have used the Costanza defense. Is that wrong? 31 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 3: Should I not have done that? 32 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: I got to plead ignorance here because if I had known, well, 33 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: that's the thing that that was frowned upon. 34 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 3: I never he should have known. That's the job. So 35 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 3: here are the specifics. 36 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: When you've got these statewide elected offices like secretary of 37 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: State or a turn general. 38 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 3: They all have staff, and some of them have pretty. 39 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: Good size staff, and it is very clear, and the 40 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 2: state ethics rules are very clear, and there's an entire 41 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: division called the Office of Inspector General that is set 42 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: up to enforce these rules. And one of the rules 43 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 2: that is extraordinary clear and very important is that your 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: staff members cannot do work on your campaign while they 45 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 2: are working on state hours, on state property or with 46 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 2: state equipment like a laptop or their state issues self time. 47 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 2: And so the issue here is what is being alleged 48 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: is that staffers recorded some infra, some video, some election video, 49 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 2: probably just some generic b roll of footage people voting 50 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: and some behind the scenes footage, and then a year 51 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: or more later, they used that footage in a campaign 52 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: ad So technically state resources the time of those state 53 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 2: employees possibly however the item was being recorded, whether it 54 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: on a state cell phone or something else, or whether 55 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 2: it was recorded while those employees were on the clock 56 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 2: working for the state, you can't then use that content 57 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 2: or any product that you created with those state resources. 58 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 3: You can't use that on your campaign. 59 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: And it looks like, or it's certainly at least being alleged, 60 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: that that's what Diego Morales did in this situation. 61 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, according to the board's findings, Diego Morales he 62 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: visited the county's election service center in an official capacity, 63 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: and then state staff and equipment recorded video during that visit, 64 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: and then portions of that footage allegedly ended up in 65 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: a re election campaign video. 66 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 3: Can't do that, Yeah, if you. 67 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: Do it on state time belongs to the state, and 68 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: the two paths shall never cross. 69 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, and look there's state employees get a ton of 70 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: training on ethics. You've got the Office of Inspector General 71 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 2: is there to answer any questions on ethics. The state 72 00:03:55,440 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 2: makes these rules very clear, and it looks like certainly 73 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 2: is a being alleged that Diego Morales violated those rules. 74 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: And by the way, the Office of Inspector General can 75 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 2: issue fines and other penalties, but they can also then 76 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: refer this back to the Marion County Prosecutor's office because 77 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 2: there are certain laws that are in place that are 78 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: more than just ethics violation. 79 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: So Morales's campaign denies any wrongdoing. He said. The footage 80 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: was originally posted on an official government recap and later reused, 81 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: and they argue the local election board doesn't have the 82 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: authority over the matter. But here's the bigger takeaway. Election 83 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: integrity debates, they often focus on voter behavior, but this 84 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: situation highlights another issue, and that is how the election 85 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 1: officials themselves are using power and resources. Even the appearance 86 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: of mixing government work with campaign activity can erode the 87 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: public trusts, especially when the person involved overseas elections. 88 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: You know, you said something really interesting right there, and 89 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 2: I want to be fair to Diego Morales because you 90 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: mentioned his defense leave is that the content is video 91 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: they created was posted on an official government social media 92 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,559 Speaker 2: page or website. I think what Diego is arguing there 93 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: is that once it is posted on an official government site. 94 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:15,119 Speaker 3: It's up for grabs. 95 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: It then becomes quote unquote public domain, and then anybody 96 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: could access it, like, for example, if WIBC wanted to 97 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: take that video and repost it or portions of it. 98 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: I think he's arguing that that would be okay, or 99 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: anybody any entity could do that, and therefore, if anybody 100 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: in the public can do it, then his campaign can 101 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 2: be allowed to do it. I'm not sure if that 102 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: actually is a legitimate defense. I'm not sure that that's 103 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: been proven out yet. 104 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 3: In a court of law. 105 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 2: But that is the Secretary of State, Diego Morales's defense 106 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 2: in this situation. 107 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: Well, no matter who's in office, voters expect basic boundaries 108 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: between public duty and campaigning. 109 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: And if the people running. 110 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: The elections blur the line between government work and campaign politics, 111 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: it's not just an ethics issue. This is a trust issue. 112 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 3: It's an optics issue. It doesn't look good, which, by 113 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 3: the way, the Secretary of State's office. 114 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: Since Diego Morales has been in it has had a 115 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: lot of issues that haven't looked good. 116 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 3: And that's the problem. Add it to the list. 117 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: I think that's what's really these are stacking up. He's 118 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 2: got these trips that were questionable. He totally blew off 119 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: his budget presentation, which you think would kind of be important. Yeah, 120 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,239 Speaker 2: I mean that seems like that's pretty important. Just didn't 121 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: even show up for that. So he's had a lot 122 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: of questions. 123 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: Having relatives, high paying positions. 124 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 2: A lot of scandals, the expensive car, no bid contracts India. 125 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: What do we come up with six or seven right 126 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: off the top of our head, And I bet we 127 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: missed five or six too. 128 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 3: So that's really the problem here is this is. 129 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,799 Speaker 2: Just another issue that it doesn't look good for Diego 130 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: Morales and that could be a big problem. 131 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 3: As he's up for reelection this year well. 132 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: And it's also a big problem because this is not 133 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 1: coming at a good time for him. When you see 134 00:06:54,560 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: headlines that say he is barred from the Election Service Center, 135 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: the Secretary of State being barred from anything with the 136 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: word election in it doesn't look good, especially when you 137 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: have someone like former mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard putting 138 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: his hat in the race as he is now running 139 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: for the Indiana Secretary of State as an independent candidate. 140 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: Now you have Indie Star did an article a fact 141 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: check has Greg Ballard been living in Myrtle Beach? And 142 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: here's what they came up with. After leaving office, he 143 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: lived for a period in South Carolina, including places like 144 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: Myrtle Beach, but he moved back to Indiana March of 145 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: twenty three. So not quite the gotcha that everybody is saying, well, 146 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: and he's allowed to move and move back. 147 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: I was really surprised at how many Republicans, like sitting 148 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: members of the current legislation, you're mad about that that 149 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: as soon as Ballard announced his candidacy, they brought up 150 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 2: this residency issue and really started hammering. 151 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: It hard on social media. And they kind of look 152 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 3: silly right now, because Ballard was just like, yeah, I 153 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 3: moved to Burtle Beach. 154 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then I moved back, and then i moved back, 155 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: and I was voting here and so I'm totally eligible 156 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 2: to run for this office. 157 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 3: And there was nothing there. I don't know what you 158 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 3: guys are doing. 159 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: It's a mirror up to the current Secretary of State 160 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: who voted in a different district than his homestead. 161 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, this came up. 162 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, we forgot about this one when we just rattled 163 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: off a few minutes ago all the scandals around Diego Morales. 164 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: There were talking about where people are voting and living. 165 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, he had a residency issue. 166 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: So for all of these Republicans, either elected Republicans or 167 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 2: you know, people that work at the county level or 168 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: the state level, and the Republican Party just really hammering 169 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 2: Ballard on a residency issue when your guy has had 170 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 2: questions about residency issues. 171 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 3: What it says is, so, let's scared. They scared. That's 172 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 3: exactly right. 173 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: They are scared by Greg Ballard because what is if 174 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: you were to look at this right now, what is 175 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: likely to happen. Not say this is one hundred percent 176 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 2: going to happen, but what is likely to happen is 177 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 2: that conservatives, not necessarily Republicans, but conservatives will split their 178 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: vote between Diego Morales. 179 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 3: Which when Greg Ballard, which will elevate bo Baya. 180 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 2: And as long as Bobai doesn't get a serious challenger 181 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 2: or another independent with enough gravitas and punch behind him, 182 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 2: like Greg Ballard does, it looks like it's leading toward 183 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 2: a potential easy election for the Democrat. 184 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: Well, these residency attacks there, I mean, it's kind of predictable, right, 185 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: but they are going to backfire when you don't have 186 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: the substance and when your guy doesn't look that great either. 187 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: So you can go after Ballads Ballard's past living situation 188 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,959 Speaker 1: as political ammunition, but it's not going to change any 189 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: sort of eligibility or policy positions. He's eligible to run. 190 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: He's not doing anything nefarious. 191 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think what frustrates a lot of Republicans 192 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 2: and Conservatives when they see something like this is they 193 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 2: see a guy like Diego Morales who has just been 194 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 2: scandal after scaleandal after scandal after scandal since the minute 195 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: he got into office. And now you've got all these 196 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 2: Republican officials and elected officials fervently defending him, I mean, 197 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 2: acting like he is, you know, just you know, has 198 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: a perfect track record. When he doesn't, it just comes 199 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 2: across as nasty party politics, and in this specific situation, 200 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 2: it may come to bite the Republicans and the butt 201 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 2: on it.