A coalition of government watchdog groups is calling on Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to investigate a forgeries identified by THE CITY in ballot challenges linked to the Brooklyn Democratic Party establishment. 

In a letter sent to Gonzalez Wednesday, six organizations, including Reinvent Albany, Citizens Union, and Common Cause/NY, asked Brooklyn’s top prosecutor to review “what seem to be well-founded accusations that false filings were made to object to county committee petitions.”

The call comes after five Brooklyn residents the county establishment. All five residents, identified in a series of articles this spring, live in and around Brownsville and East New York. 

In response to the revelations, Anthony Jones, a Brownsville district leader allied with Brooklyn party boss Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, confirmed in April that the forgeries came from people in his political club. 

Jones blamed outside infiltrators for the potentially criminal conduct. “What we do know is that we feel like we were set up,” Jones said at the time.

Previously, Gonzalez’s office without their knowledge of consent.

“Any fraudulent activity around petition objections creates voter cynicism about elections,” said Rachael Fauss, senior research analyst at Reinvent Albany. “And a serious investigation by the DA will help restore public confidence.”

The alleged fraud and forgeries were moves that would have served to boost the current leadership’s control of the party during a time of intense intra-party fighting against a group of insurgents.

“We continue to look into all allegations and claims reported to our office,” a spokesman for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

The Brooklyn Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment.

George Joseph is an investigative reporter for The Guardian US. He was previously a senior reporter for THE CITY with a focus on criminal justice and courts.

Yoav is a senior reporter for THE CITY, where he covers NYC government, politics and the police department.