SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Just hours before Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, the headquarters of the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division was vandalized.
Elections officials discovered on January 20, 2017, that the doors and windows of the building in Salem, Oregon’s capital, had been shattered. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear, but authorities said that the vandalism occurred sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. local time.
“It’s very concerning and disappointing,” said election official, Jim Wong. “We’re in the process of trying to gather as much information as we can, but at this point, we don’t have any evidence that suggests what the motive behind the vandalism might be.”
The FBI and local police are investigating the incident. Officials said they have reviewed security footage and are working to determine who was responsible.
The incident has raised concerns about the potential impact on Oregon’s election processes, particularly with a major presidential election just taking place. However, officials stressed that the damage did not appear to have affected the integrity of the election process or the outcome of the presidential race.
“It’s unfortunate, but we’re working to move forward and make sure that the public’s confidence in our elections is maintained,” said Secretary of State Dennis Richardson.