A Providence woman has been accused of falsifying nomination papers during the 2023 congressional special election, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.
Holly McClaren, 52, is charged with two counts each of falsely certifying nomination papers and filing false documents with a public official, the attorney general’s office said in a news release.
McClaren is accused of signing and submitting nomination papers for former state representative Sabina Matos during the July 11-13, 2023 special election. The indictment was unsealed after McClaren voluntarily appeared in Providence County Superior Court on May 31, the attorney general’s office said.
“As alleged, on days and dates between July 11, 2023, and July 13, 2023, the defendant knowingly falsified nomination papers, and caused those nomination papers to be submitted to the Jamestown and Newport Boards of Canvassers on behalf of then-candidate Sabina Matos,” the attorney general’s office said.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 8.
“I am glad to learn that the investigation is progressing, and that those involved are being held accountable. This is a serious crime that was perpetrated against our state’s free and fair elections, and I look forward to this case being settled and resolved. I will continue to support our justice system in any way I can to ensure the truth comes to light, as well as supporting reforms to the reporting structure to protect our democratic process,” said Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos in a statement.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
