Republican Politician Caught on Camera Stealing Election Ballots While Testing Voting Machines: Court Docs

An Indiana man who ran for Congress in this year's election was arrested and charged on Tuesday with stealing ballots while testing voter machines.

Larry L. Savage Jr. was caught on camera on Oct. 8 stealing "test" ballots -- one Republican and one mail-in -- which are still tracked and counted. He was heard telling an election official he had "absolutely, totally real ballots," and telling another woman it was a "f- -ked up count" before placing both ballots in his pocket, according to reporting by FOX59.

Later that night, police confronted Savage about the ballots at his home, which he claimed he was told to take and that he "wasn't trying to steal from nobody." He also said he thought he could take them because they were marked "sample," which officials refuted.

"If you go to Payless, or go wherever, it says sample and you usually can take a sample," Savage told police, according to court documents obtained by FOX59. "So that is the way I took it. I thought they were fake f- -king ballots."

Court documents further revealed Savage had text messages proving he knew the ballots were real. He also posted on Facebook about intentionally stealing them, adding that he wants "fair, transparent elections" to "restore trust and protect civil rights."

The Madison County Prosecutor's Office charged Savage with destroying or misplacing a ballot, a felony, and a misdemeanor theft. He posted a $500 bail, and it is unclear when he will appear in court, per FOX59.