Syracuse, NY — A 66-year-old New York woman has been charged with illegally voting after telling federal investigators she only recently discovered that she was not a U.S. citizen.
Marva Cook, who was adopted as a toddler and grew up in Syracuse, said she had always believed she was American. While recently searching for her biological mother, she discovered a German birth certificate indicating she had been born outside the United States.
Federal prosecutors say Cook, a lawful permanent resident, nevertheless voted in the 2022 midterm election. She faces one misdemeanor count of voting as a noncitizen, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Cook voluntarily surrendered but said she was shackled during her court appearance. Her attorney says no deportation proceedings are currently pending.
The Trump administration highlighted the arrest as evidence of election fraud. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone declared that “voter fraud is rampant” in New York.
That sweeping characterization contrasts sharply with available evidence, including the administration’s own investigations, which have found noncitizen voting to be exceptionally rare and not remotely widespread enough to affect election outcomes.
Cook’s friends and community members said there was no intent to deceive anyone, describing her as a longtime community volunteer who genuinely believed she was a citizen.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
