Republican Candidate Paid Accused Forger to Collect Signatures To Get Name on Ballot

"According to the report, Constantino hired a man named Christopher Bernstein, who was arrested in 2014 for allegedly forging signatures on a different candidate's ballot petition. In 2012, Bernstein pleaded guilty to possession of a forged instrument involving a fake drug prescription. A video reviewed by Playbook shows Bernstein collecting signatures in Fort Edward, Washington County, for Constantino without saying the candidate's name."

"Constantino told Playbook that he fired Bernstein when he learned of his background. In a statement, Constantino said, 'We were not aware of this person's background and have decided to terminate them effective immediately. All petitions they acquired have been set aside and will be reviewed by my legal team.'"

Anthony Constantino, owner of The Sticker Mule printing company running to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik in Congress, hired paid canvassers to collect ballot signatures after failing to secure local GOP endorsement. He allegedly employed Christopher Bernstein, a man with a 2014 arrest for forging signatures on another candidate's petition and a 2012 guilty plea for possessing a forged instrument. Video evidence shows Bernstein collecting signatures while misrepresenting himself as representing the Republican Party, despite the Washington County GOP endorsing Constantino's opponent, GOP Assemblyman Robert Smullen. Constantino claimed ignorance of Bernstein's background and terminated him upon learning of it, stating all acquired petitions would be reviewed by his legal team.

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