State Launches Inquiry Into Dornan Loss

Secretary of State Bill Jones has launched a formal investigation into complaints of voter fraud lodged by Rep. Robert K. Dornan, the Garden Grove Republican who narrowly lost his reelection bid last month to an upstart Democrat.

Jones said in a letter Wednesday that his investigators would immediately begin looking into instances of voter fraud alleged by Dornan, including voting by illegal immigrants, lax ballot box security, people voting more than once and voters registering at phony addresses.

Dornan, a nationally prominent and vocal conservative who was seeking his 10th term in the House of Representatives, lost to Democrat Loretta Sanchez by 984 votes. He has demanded a partial recount, claiming that thousands of absentee ballots were illegally cast.

Patricia Fanelli, Dornan’s district director, said the congressman was pleased by Jones’ announcement.

“The congressman wants to emphasize he is not doing this for himself,” Fanelli said. “Nearly half the people in his district voted for him, and nearly half the district has pleaded with him to press for the investigation.”

Sanchez could not be reached for comment.

Jones and other state officials have no power to overturn the election, but could report any findings of fraud to Congress, which has the sole authority to seat or unseat one of its members.