Cleared Hot Ep. 425: "He Reported Election Fraud — Then Lost Everything"
Host: Andy Stumpf
Guest: Erik Holt
Date: January 12, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode features an in-depth conversation between Andy Stumpf and Erik Holt, a former fire chief whose whistleblowing on local election fraud in Colorado led to a devastating personal and professional fallout. The discussion traces Holt's journey through military and fire service, delves into the complexities of local politics, the risk and cost of standing up for integrity, and explores the broader landscape of American trust in elections and institutions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Holt’s Background and Philosophy on Service
- Military and Firefighting Roots: Holt discusses his military background as a firefighter and transition into federal and community fire service roles.
- Leadership & Culture: Builds a successful fire department by professionalizing and actively recruiting/training volunteers (18:53–21:39).
- Personal Motivation: Centers his ethos on discomfort and growth. "I seek the things that make me uncomfortable. I move towards things that scare me. I think you should too." (Episode Description)
The Incident: Discovering and Reporting Election Fraud
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Board Elections & Irregularities:
- All five seats on the local fire board unexpectedly came up for election, which is highly irregular and removes stability from governance (79:06).
- A slate of five ran under “vote for one of us, vote for all of us,” an unusual local political maneuver (81:43).
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First Signs of Fraud:
- Multiple complaints from community members about poll watchers filming voters, coaching votes, and general impropriety.
- “One of the poll watchers was in front of me on their phone and they said, 'Did you pay him? Is this the vehicle pulling in right now?' And then I watched them sort of motion people over and heard them tell who to vote for.” — Holt (87:02)
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Holt’s Personal Investigation:
- As a private citizen, Holt acquires hours of surveillance footage and meticulously reviews for violations, tallying hundreds of instances of illegal activity (91:46–93:15).
- He discovers a coordinated scheme using poll watchers with electronic devices, track counters, and off-site coordination to guarantee election victory.
“If there's hundreds of violations of law, it's not an accident. It's got to be something coordinated. But I don't want to find something coordinated.” — Holt (93:14)
Consequences of Speaking Out
- Repercussions from the New Board:
- Holt becomes a pariah, accused of felony surveillance ‘fraud,’ ostracized and finally fired for being unable to pay an insurance bill—after the board had frozen the district’s bank accounts, effectively disabling operations (110:11–117:11).
- Institutional Barriers:
- Multiple legal roadblocks, conflicts of interest (the law firm representing the board connected to the DA’s office), and summary judgments against him.
- “For two and a half years, I've taken the brunt of it. And the people that committed crimes and election fraud have just attacked me non-stop.” — Holt (122:10)
- Personal Fallout:
- Financial ruin: forced to sell his home, move into a camper, unable to find work in his field.
- “My livelihood, my career, everything—gone. I live in a camper in my stepdad's backyard in California.” — Holt (119:30)
Reflections on Integrity, Resilience, and the Cost of Principle
- Raising Children by Example:
- “There ain’t no effing way my two daughters will ever see me quit something because the road is hard.” — Holt (121:40)
- Lessons Learned:
- The First Amendment and whistleblower protections are insufficient in practice for public officials.
- “The system is not set up for people like whistleblowers to have any chance of success in courts.”
American Discourse: Elections, Social Media, and Emotional Thinking
- Host and Guest on Emotional vs. Intellectual Responses:
- “You realize in your answer you just demonstrated the difference between an emotional and an intellectual response... I'm a red-blooded American, let's go. That's emotional.” — Andy (67:50)
- Social Media and Youth:
- Australia’s approach to banning social media for minors, psychological effects on kids, the role of algorithms, and self-responsibility (51:05–56:08).
- Election Cynicism and Trust in Institutions:
- “I am at a place where I think politicians have done almost everything they can to erode the trust in those they are supposed to be serving. I need to see it.” — Andy (132:04)
- Notable Comparison:
- The local election fraud Holt discovered as a microcosm of national election distrust.
On Why Small-Scale Corruption Can Be So Passionate
- Power, Ego, and Status:
- The five board members appear motivated by ego and status, not monetary gain. (105:08)
- “Ego is a cancer, man. That's all I can—it's chaos that I had inherited in these, you know, counter parties.” — Holt (129:35)
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
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On professionalization and culture in fire departments (18:53):
“We always had somebody 24-7 at the station that was an EMT, and started in April 2022... by January of ‘23, we were down to a seven-minute response time, just changing the model.” — Holt
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On discovering evidence of election rigging (97:40):
“Somebody's off-site coordinating. They would call one of the poll watchers. The poll watcher would walk out, greet people, walk back in, people would get their ballot, go vote. And as they came back ... they were signaling, 'Hey, I complied.' And they would count those.”
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On whistleblowing and fallout (122:10):
“For two and a half years, I've taken the brunt of it. And the people that committed crimes and election fraud have just attacked me non-stop.”
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On showing one's kids perseverance (121:40):
“There ain’t no effing way my two daughters will ever see me quit something because the road is hard.” — Holt
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On emotional vs. intellectual national responses (67:50):
“You realize in your answer you just demonstrated the difference between an emotional and an intellectual response. ... I'm a red-blooded American, let's go. That's emotional.” — Andy
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On how Americans engage online (56:48):
“I try to, when I engage with people online, I use the elevator principle. I don’t say anything that I wouldn’t say if I wasn’t in an elevator.” — Andy
Most Important Segments (Timestamps)
- 15:46–22:16 — Building and transforming a rural fire department
- 79:06–101:52 — The tangled small-town board election, reporting, and Holt’s decision to investigate
- 110:09–117:11 — Board strikes back; Holt is fired and the department is shut down
- 119:30–122:10 — The personal cost: legal battles, financial ruin, and the quest for justice
- 127:02–130:35 — The broader meaning of fighting for integrity and the case's legal implications
- 139:10–141:15 — Caution on blaming judges for unfavorable outcomes and on Gold Star status
- 121:36–121:49 — “There ain’t no effing way my two daughters will ever see me quit...” (pivotal quote on grit)
Final Reflections & Where to Follow Erik Holt
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What Holt Learned:
“Hardship is how you grow. My primary duty is to raise two respectable human beings... There's value in fighting and in standing up for what you believe.” (153:50–155:19) -
Where to Follow / Support Holt:
- Facebook: Justice for Holt
- X/Twitter
- TikTok, YouTube: “Justice for Holt”
- Fundraising: GoFundMe, GiveSendGo (links referenced to be provided in show notes)
Summary
This episode explores not just a whistleblower’s personal and professional devastation after exposing small town election fraud, but also the nuances of courage, the cost of principle, and what ethical resilience means in a world where speaking out is perilous. Andy presses Holt to distinguish emotional reaction from critical thought, unpacks the mechanics and motives of small-town politics, and holds up the universal lesson: Sometimes, doing the right thing means paying an enormous price—and your kids are always watching.
For listeners seeking further details, refer to Erik Holt’s social media (@JusticeforHolt) for documentary video and legal evidence referenced throughout the episode.