If there are any complaints from voters, Benedetto said “the primary responsibility for enforcement falls on the CNMI.”
“If there are allegations that any federal law has been violated, it is the federal government’s job to investigate them, but only after the election, since we don’t want any investigation or enforcement action to affect the outcome of the election,” Benedetto said.
He added: “Our job is to prosecute, after the fact. So I am seated at my desk today, until the polls close at 7 p.m., ready to document any complaints that anyone might have.”
The FBI, he said, will be responsible for investigating those complaints.
“And our investigation, and any prosecution we may undertake, will be done in consultation with the Election Crimes Branch of the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division,” Benedetto said.
