Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle recuses herself from voter fraud investigation

Rod Vereen, Rundle's opponent questions timing of recusal

MIAMI – They look like an ordinary pile of absentee ballots but 31of them are at the center of a massive voter fraud investigation in Miami-Dade County.

Deisy Cabrerra faces a felony charge because of the ballots. She's accused of collecting them from seniors in Hialeah and forging at least one of them.

Hours after Cabrera's arrest on Thursday, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle did what she promised two days ago.

Rundle recused herself from the investigation with a letter to the governor stating that someone in her campaign was "alleged to have been seen" in the company of Diesy Cabrerra.

"I'm not surprised that Miss Rundle decided to do what I had asked that she do, and that is to step away from this investigation, this case," said Rod Vereen.

Vereen is one of the people throwing around accusations. He is Rundle's opponent in the upcoming election.

Vereen questions the timing of the recusal, speculating that Rundle knew she should have stepped aside from the start.

"She probably knew this was a conflict of interest," he said.

The state attorney chose not to go on camera on Friday. But a spokesperson for her office said that it is now up to another investigator to sort through the rumors in order to get to facts.