Prior to completion of a Treasury Department CFIUS investigation raised in 2006 by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Smartmatic announces the sale of its American subsidiary, Sequoia Voting Systems to a group of investors comprised of Smartmatic’s current executive management team and led by Sequoia President Jack Blaine.
As stated in Jack Blaine’s affidavit, Smartmatic reaches an agreement in December 2006 with CFIUS for the sale of its American subsidiary within a period of no more than six months.
“Smartmatic, the voting machine firm with ties to the Venezuelan government, today announced that it is divesting ownership of the voting machine company Sequoia Voting Systems,” says Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) in a news release.
“Smartmatic decided to sell Sequoia rather than complete an investigation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a government entity charged with ensuring the safety of foreign investment in the US,” Maloney says.
Maloney’s inquiries about Smartmatic’s ties to the Hugo Chavez regime in Venezuela prompted the CFIUS investigation.
“I am relieved by the news of this sale – it was a long time coming,” Maloney adds. “The integrity of our voting machines and elections is vital to national security.”
Smartmatic co-founder and CEO Antonio Mugica announced in a press release the sale of Sequoia Voting Systems to a private group of American investors, represented by former Smartmatic president Jack Blaine, after indicating difficulties in the US market.
Source:
1. https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smartmatic-announces-sale-sequoia-voting-systems
2. https://www.smartmatic.com/smartmatic-announces-the-sale-of-its-subsidiary-sequoia-
3. https://www.smartmatic.com/united-states-innovation-helping-35-million-voters-in-more-than-50-elections-
1. Was Congresswoman Maloney correct when she said “Smartmatic decided to sell” before CFIUS could complete its investigation of the company’s owners?
2. Did Smartmatic’s sale of Sequoia effectively kill the CFIUS investigation?
3. Absent a conclusive CFIUS investigation, will it ever be known who really owns or controls Smartmatic?
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