Sale ends machine flap

[Freddie Stubbs]

Smartmatic -- the South Florida-based voting-machine company that was under investigation for possible links to the Venezuelan government -- will sell the U.S. subsidiary that provides electronic machines in Florida and other states.

By CASEY WOODS
[e-mail]

A federal investigation into possible secret Venezuelan government involvement in a South Florida-based electronic voting machine company has been closed after Smartmatic announced on Thursday that it will sell the subsidiary that sparked the probe.

A Treasury-led panel began the inquiry earlier this year because of concerns that Smartmatic, which owns Sequoia Voting Systems Co., could pose a threat to U.S. national security by giving the left-wing government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez a way to influence elections.

Sequoia, one of the nation's leading suppliers of touch-screen voting machines, provides machines to the nation's capital and dozens of counties in 16 states, including Florida counties such as Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Indian River, and Pinellas.

Smartmatic representatives, who say the company voluntarily submitted to the probe, said the sale of Sequoia and the end of the investigation will allow both companies to grow without a cloud of suspicion hanging over their operations.

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16295058.htm

[EFerrari]

1. The Miami Herald

"We'll print anything!"