A former USPS employee, Damon Matai Seei, was indicted for allegedly discarding about 300 mail‑in ballots in Utah. Authorities say he admitted throwing the ballots and other mail away on June 3 to "lighten his workload," though he denies a political motive. The ballots were intended for Eagle Mountain residents for the June 23 primary; Seei is due back in court on Nov. 30.
Former USPS Worker Indicted After Allegedly Discarding About 300 Mail‑In Ballots in Utah
The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday unsealed the indictment of a former U.S. Postal Service worker who allegedly threw away about 300 mail-in ballots earlier this year in Utah. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
A former U.S. Postal Service employee, Damon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah, has been indicted after federal prosecutors say he discarded roughly 300 mail‑in ballots earlier this year. The indictment was unsealed Sept. 22 after Seei appeared for arraignment at the Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
Seei was returned on an indictment by a federal grand jury and faces charges of unlawfully secreting, destroying and delaying mail. Prosecutors allege he tossed the ballots into a dumpster in a church parking lot on June 3, along with other mail items.
According to a Justice Department detention memorandum, Seei told investigators he threw the mail away that day to "lighten his workload." In a written statement he said he felt "overwhelmed" and intended to discard advertisement mail. The memo says he told authorities he had no political motive and did not intend to throw away ballots, but he acknowledged making a "poor decision" driven by "frustration" and "laziness."
"When American voters lawfully cast their vote, they should feel confident that it is counted," acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said. "Allegedly throwing away hundreds of ballots is a serious federal crime that undermines the integrity of our elections. Ballot integrity is not a partisan issue."
The ballots were reportedly addressed to Eagle Mountain, Utah, residents so they could participate in the June 23 primary election. Seei's next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 30.
The indictment arrives amid a broader national debate over mail‑in voting. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed widespread voter fraud related to mail voting without presenting evidence, and the U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected administration plans to restrict mail‑in voting for the November midterm elections.
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