A state Assembly candidate in upstate New York was recently caught on camera removing a rival’s campaign flyer from a voter’s mailbox, an act that has caused significant controversy.
In footage captured by a Ring camera installed at the Scotia homeowner’s house, Joseph Mastroianni, the Republican candidate, is seen taking out a political flyer from the mailbox.
The flyer, which belonged to his Democratic opponent, Angelo Santabarbara, was put in his pocket, while Mastroianni replaced it with his own campaign material.
The incident occurred on October 17 and has drawn attention due to Mastroianni’s actions and the apparent disregard for election integrity.
In the video, Mastroianni can be heard saying “Bad, bad, bad” while a woman behind him giggles, suggesting he was aware of the wrongdoing.
Mastroianni, who is also a member of the Rotterdam Town Board, is challenging six-term Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara in the race for the 111th district, which includes Schenectady and Montgomery counties. The video of this incident was first reported by News 6 in Albany.
One unfortunate aspect for Mastroianni is that the homeowner is subscribed to a service called “informed mail delivery.” This service, offered by the US Postal Service, provides daily emails with photos or videos of items placed in the mailbox.
On the same day, the homeowner received an email showing that Santabarbara’s campaign flyer had been delivered, which led them to check the footage and discover Mastroianni taking it.
Removing someone else’s mail from a mailbox is considered a federal crime, with the potential for serious legal consequences, including prison time.
The Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman, Frank Salamone, did not waste time in taking action.
Salamone filed a formal complaint with multiple authorities, including the US Postal Service, the state Board of Elections, the New York State Police, and local law enforcement.
The complaint detailed how Mastroianni was seen on camera committing the alleged act of mail theft.
In a public statement, Salamone highlighted the video evidence showing Mastroianni taking the mail.
He noted that it was clear Mastroianni was aware of his actions, given his remark, “Bad, bad, bad,” as he folded the flyer and placed it in his pocket.
Salamone called for Mastroianni to immediately suspend his campaign and resign from his position on the Rotterdam Town Board.
He emphasized that Mastroianni had violated public trust and committed an alleged federal crime.
According to Salamone, it wasn’t just about the election: “We hold our elected officials to higher standards, and in this case, Mastroianni has not even met the basic moral code of ‘Thou shalt not steal’.”
Despite the uproar, Mastroianni has not responded to any inquiries or addressed the accusations, leaving the public and political leaders waiting for his response.
