An official in the Queens County Republican Party has been suspended from his job with New York City’s Board of Elections over allegations that he sought money from a firm bidding in the city’s voting machines in 2009.
Published reports claim Stephen Graves, first vice chairman of the party, was taped asking for a “finder’s fee” in return for setting the company up with a particular lobbyist.
The company did not pay the money and did not get the contract.
Graves, whose name is not listed among the vice chairmen on the Queens GOP website, ran for Congress in the 5th District as a Republican in 2004.
The BOE would say only that Graves is an administrative assistant who began in 2007, and would not confirm his status.
The city’s Department of Investigation did not comment on Tuesday, and would neither confirm the existence of any investigation into the matter, active or otherwise.
Messages left with the Queens County Republican Committee seeking comment for this story were not returned.
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