The source of those controversial “robocalls” on Election Night has been identified.
The Baltimore Sun reported that it was the work of Julius Hensen, a Maryland businessman who had been on the payroll for Republican candidate for governor Robert Ehrlich.
Henson, who the Sun called a "longtime Democratic operative," runs the consulting firm Universal Elections, based out of Baltimore. According to the Sun, the Ehrlich campaign earmarked at least $32,000 in consulting fees to Hensen’s company.
Ehrlich spokesman Andy Barth told the Sun that he had no immediate comment but said he would look into the issue.
The calls went out Tuesday afternoon, before polls closed. The caller urged voters to stay home because the Democratic candidate, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, had already won. (Click here to listen to the message.) Critics said it was an effort to suppress voter turnout for O'Malley.
The company that facilitated the call, Robodial.org, based out of Pennsylvania, said almost 50,000 people got the message.
The calls angered both Democrats and Republicans and could lead to criminal charges.
On Thursday, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to look into it. Maryland’s Attorney General, Doug Gansler, vowed to investigate the matter.
