Montana Democratic operative caught on video allegedly 'tampering' with ballot drop box

A Montana Democratic operative was caught on video allegedly "tampering" with a ballot drop box, according to a county election administrator.

A video obtained by Fox News shows an individual who appears to try moving a small ballot drop box that is mounted on a pillar before stepping back and seemingly taking a picture of the box, then returning and trying to move it again.

Richie Melby, the communications director for Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen (R), told Montana Talks that the election administrator from Glacier County, where the ballot drop box is located, contacted the secretary of state's office about the person in the video.

"The Glacier County election administrator contacted our office expressing serious concern over surveillance footage that appeared to show an individual 'tampering' with a ballot box," Melby said.

"Our Elections Director contacted the election administrator, who confirmed that the individual in the footage is Laszlo Gendler. The name of the suspect and details were turned over to Glacier County law enforcement. Our Elections Director was pleased that the individual was not able to remove the ballot box from the wall, although the activity was obviously highly suspicious and concerning."

Glacier County Election Administrator Crystal Cole emailed the secretary of state on Monday explaining the situation.

"Glacier County has put up two Official Mail Ballot Drop Boxes, one at our Satellite Office in Browning and one at the Glacier County Detention/Dispatch Entrance, both under 24/7 surveillance," Cole wrote.

"Yesterday, on October 20th, at 10:25:05, Laszlo with the MT Democratic Party was on camera tampering with the Box. I did call him to ask him what his reasoning was, he stated 'they' sent him to the location to see how secure the box was. The MT Democratic party did not notify the Elections office in any way to state they would be sending someone to the Ballot Box to see how secure it was, so on camera it looks like he was tampering with the box."

Gendler, the operative in the video, was last paid by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in May, according to OpenSecrets.

The DSCC is supporting Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in his reelection bid against Trump-endorsed Republican Tim Sheehy.

Sheehy is currently seven points ahead of Tester, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.