JUST IN: Democrat Arrested For Telling Woman To Change Vote

A former Democratic Connecticut state senator has been arrested after a voter accused him of opening her completed absentee ballot and pressuring her to change her vote to his brother.

Dennis A. Bradley was arrested Tuesday on four criminal charges stemming from alleged absentee-ballot violations ahead of Bridgeport’s Aug. 11 Democratic primary, according to Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin.

Bradley faces two counts involving the illegal possession of absentee ballots and envelopes, one count of being present when an absentee-ballot applicant executes a ballot, and another absentee-ballot charge involving the alleged unlawful opening of a ballot.

The allegations center on the Democratic primary for probate judge between incumbent Paul Ganim and challenger Mark Bradley—the former state senator’s brother.

At the center of the case is Bridgeport voter Alesia Dennis.

Dennis told authorities that Bradley came to her apartment after she had already completed her absentee ballot.

She alleged that Bradley opened the completed ballot and then instructed her on changing her vote from Ganim to his brother.

Dennis said she complied because she felt intimidated.

“I felt intimidated. So I just went along with everything he said for me to do,” Dennis told NBC Connecticut.

Rather than allowing the disputed absentee ballot to proceed, Dennis said she turned it over to police.

She later went to the registrar of voters’ office and cast her vote in person.

“I shouldn’t have to go through that twice. I mean, literally, I cast my vote,” she said.

Dennis contacted Bridgeport police on Aug. 5 and filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission the following day.

The commission subsequently referred the matter to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for further investigation.

That investigation ultimately resulted in Bradley’s arrest.

Bradley, who represented Bridgeport in the Connecticut Senate from 2019 until 2023, was released on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 21.

His attorney, Darnell Crosland, said Bradley maintains his innocence.

The charges are allegations, and Bradley has not been convicted in connection with the absentee-ballot case.

Republican Connecticut Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding and state Sen. Rob Sampson responded to the allegations with a blistering joint statement.

“Got fraud? Bridgeport has plenty of it. What an absolute embarrassment.”

Dennis, meanwhile, said the experience and subsequent investigation took a serious personal toll.

She told NBC Connecticut that at one point the ordeal left her questioning whether she wanted to participate in elections at all.

“I wasn’t going to vote no more,” Dennis said. “I mean, that’s how bad it got me to that point.”

Despite that experience, Dennis said she continues to have faith in Bridgeport’s election system and intends to keep voting, something she said she has done since becoming eligible.

The new case isn’t Bradley’s first encounter with criminal charges connected to politics.

Bradley was separately charged in a federal case in 2021 involving his 2018 campaign for the Connecticut Senate.

He was later convicted in March of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud in a case involving Connecticut’s public campaign financing program.

That federal prosecution is separate from the new absentee-ballot allegations.

The latest case instead centers on a specific voter’s allegation that Bradley took possession of her completed absentee ballot, opened it and instructed her to change a vote in a Democratic primary involving his own brother.

Bradley maintains his innocence and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 21.