No criminal charges for candidate in 9th District absentee ballot mess

"Following more than a year of investigation by multiple state and federal agencies into the involvement of former Congressional candidate Mark Harris and the Harris Campaign into the absentee ballot operations in Bladen County during the 2018 General Election, our office has concluded that there is not evidence which would support a criminal case against Dr. Harris and, therefore, is closing the matter as to him," Freeman said in a statement. "Charges against multiple individuals, including Mr. McCrae Dowless, who was hired by the Harris campaign, remain pending, and investigators continue probing other areas of evidence."

Dowless oversaw an absentee ballot harvesting scheme that sent people door to door in Bladen and Robeson counties to get voters to request absentee ballots, which is legal. Then operatives went back to collect the actual ballots, which is illegal under North Carolina law due to tampering concerns.

"I am personally grateful for the detailed investigation by the Wake County District Attorney and the cooperating federal and state agencies to finally restore my reputation," Harris said in a statement. "I trust the investigators will continue their work so North Carolina voters can be assured that their vote counts in a system that follows the rule of law."

A special election was held in September, and Congressman Dan Bishop, a former state lawmaker from Mecklenburg County, now represents the district.