Company heading Pa. election audit vows to protect voters' information. But how?

The president of the company contracted by state Senate Republicans for $270,000 in taxpayer money to lead their elections investigation pledged Tuesday to be fair and protect voters' sensitive information, but declined to discuss his firm’s procedures.  

Steve Lahr, the founder of Iowa-based Envoy Sage LLC, touted his more than three decades of experience during a Tuesday media call with state Sen. Cris Dush, R-Clinton County, the chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, which is pushing the investigation, but demurred on providing specifics.  

“Our function here is to provide the committee with clarity, facts and analysis,” said Lahr.  

Lahr said his firm’s efforts would focus on the integrity of the 2020 general and 2021 primary elections, voter submissions made online about possible election irregularities, previous election audit-related materials and making recommendations on potential election integrity legislation. 

Citing the Democratic court challenge to a subpoena from Dush’s committee seeking voter information from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Lahr said he would not discuss his company’s procedures.  

Several times, though, Lahr referred to his firm’s handling of classified material and personal information using protocols that met Department of Defense standards.  

“I’ve been conducting complex research, investigations, audits and analysis for more than 35 years. This experience was garnered first in the military and then in the private sector,” Lahr said. “In both arenas, I've built and led teams that successfully delivered crucial information and intelligence.”  

Asked about his firm’s experience delving into elections, Lahr declined to answer, instead pointing to his company’s classified work for the military and handling sensitive information.

More:Will Pa. Republicans issue subpoenas for voters' information? Why the effort is on hold

Why Republicans want an election audit

In opening remarks, Dush said Pennsylvania is “at a crossroads" when it comes to votes trusting election results. 

“It is our responsibility to ensure that people can have trust in our elections and its process and we must earn their trust,” he said.

“To accomplish that we must learn where the weaknesses and strengths are in our system and make appropriate changes to address those weaknesses.”  

But Dush refused to answer questions about how Envoy Sage was selected or what steps would be taken if the company identified concerns.

And Lahr did not answer questions about how many employees his company had or who specifically would be working on the election probe, saying only that his firm had the ability to add people if the need arises.

More:Pa. audit hearing: What we know as Senate Republicans probe the presidential election

GOP ties?

With Democrats decrying the election investigation as a partisan Republican lark catering to please former President Donald Trump, who lost Pennsylvania last year, Lahr also faced questions about donations he has made on behalf of Republicans.  

The Associated Press has reported that Lahr has made donations to the National Republican Congressional Committee and to South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham. 

Lahr said he has supported Democratic and Republican candidates in the past and worked for Democratic and Republican administrations.

“I see myself as bipartisan and fair, and I will continue to conduct myself as such,” he said. 

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"Costly witch hunt"  

On Friday, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa of Allegheny County criticized Republicans for initially saying a vendor would not be hired until after the court challenge is settled.

He knocked Republicans for retaining Envoy Sage, as well as shutting out Democrats on Dush’s committee from participating in the selection process.  

“This is a bad faith action by the Senate Republican Caucus,” Costa said. “They agreed to wait, and then went ahead with hiring their own firm to carry out this political, unnecessary and costly witch hunt.”  

Costa said he found it “particularly troubling that they are fast-tracking this Trumpian sideshow” the same week that Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman of Centre County announced his candidacy for governor.  

“This is not good government,” Costa said, “it is bad politics.” 

More:Here's why state Sen. Doug Mastriano says Pa. election audit 'stopped for the time being'

J.D. Prose is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network's State Capital Bureau. He can reached at jprose@gannett.com.