West Files Suit To Force Recount
WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami/AP) – Congressman Allen West said Tuesday evening he won't give up his fight to get his seat back in Congress. West said he's asked a Florida judge to order a recount for one county in his congressional race against Patrick Murphy.
West's campaign said he filed a complaint, along with eight voters, in St. Lucie County saying they want all early ballots recounted in the county.
West, and the man expected to replace him, Patrick Murphy, also headed to the nation's capitol for orientation of new House members.
Murphy has been declared the unofficial winner in the Congressional District 18 race. West has accused the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections of not following proper procedures on election night.
St. Lucie County conducted a partial recount of three days of early voting, which gave West a slight bump, but not enough to overcome Murphy.
West's campaign called the partial recount following Tuesday's election a "sham."
"We need to have a full recount of early voting, we need to see those voter logs, and when you had the people in St. Lucie County that closed polling places and locked doors, and counted votes behind doors, that's a violation of Florida statute," said West.
West argues a more extensive recount could uncover additional errors. Murphy's attorney and the supervisor of elections in St. Lucie County had no comment on the suit.
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