BREAKING: 384-Page Report Details Investigation into St. Cloud Area Voter Influence Operation

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office Led an In-Depth Investigation into Claims of Double Voting and Election Interference

Earlier this week, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office released a detailed investigative file — including incident reports, search warrants, photographs, and video footage — outlining an apparent voter influence scheme in Sherburne, Benton, and Stearns counties. The file was produced in response to a formal public data request.

My team is continuing to review the full investigative file. In the meantime, here are several key findings:

• An alleged double-voting incident occurred in Sherburne County on October 4, 2024, during the in-person early absentee voting process.

• According to the report, the incident occurred with the “assistance” of a man identified as “The Teacher.”

• The group of 10–12 voters present at the polling place at the time was described by officials as “chaotic.”

• A Sherburne County election official reported that he thought it was “weird” that the individual known as “The Teacher” repeatedly brought groups of 5–10 people to vote at one time.

• On October 9, 2024, a Sheriff’s deputy encountered The Teacher, who allegedly presented false identification to law enforcement.

• When questioned, The Teacher stated that he was attempting to help individuals overcome barriers to voting, such as language and transportation issues.

• The Teacher further confirmed that he had been driving groups of individuals to polling locations to vote.

• Stearns County received an election complaint alleging that interpreters, including The Teacher, were directing voters who to vote for at the polling place.

• Stearns County officials reportedly advised The Teacher that campaigning inside a polling place is prohibited.

• On October 17, a Sherburne County election official estimated that The Teacher had recently transported 100 or more individuals to vote.

• The same official further reported that some voters “did not appear to match the person on their identification.”

• A second Sherburne County election official identified The Teacher as the individual who had been bringing in groups on a daily basis.

In the fall of 2024, I initiated election challenges to stop counties from posting their official ballot (including the customized “timing marks”) for download on their website. Two of the counties were in the St. Cloud Area - Stearns and Benton County. Read here for more background on this effort and the difference between a “draft” or “sample” ballot and the official ballot.

As a result of this effort, I connected with multiple local concerned citizens. One issue that was reported to me involved a series of suspicious voting incidents occurring at the pre-election day polling sites in all three area counties - Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne. I made a series of inquiries but could not obtain any official confirmation that there were any such investigations.

The significance of any potential voter influence operation became more pronounced following the vote reporting irregularities that surfaced during the 2024 election in Minnesota House District 14B.At the time, I told Alpha News:

“We started with Sue Ek ahead by four votes, then down by 28 votes, and then magically down by 191 votes, which was outside the mandatory recount,” said Benda.

Coincidentally, Sherburne County later reported that additional absentee ballots were uploaded after the initial election results were released — ultimately shifting the outcome to Ek’s opponent. Throughout the recount process, no Sherburne County official disclosed the existence of a detailed investigative report dated October 21, 2024, which documented evidence of potential impropriety. Further, criminal charges were not filed until December 11, 2024 — shortly after the November 25 recount concluded.

In late 2025, a concerned citizen informed me that a criminal case had been filed in Sherburne County relating to the pre-election incident described above. On January 2, 2026, I submitted a formal data request and am now reviewing the redacted records produced in response.

The Teacher was charged with two misdemeanor offenses: providing false identification to a peace officer and driving without a valid driver’s license. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the false identification charge was dismissed and he pleaded guilty to driving without a license. The court imposed a 90-day suspended sentence — meaning no jail time if he remains law-abiding — along with $185 in fines and fees.

Stay tuned for more information as this investigation continues.

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Matt Benda