NORTH CAROLINA -- A new development has emerged in the unresolved 9th District congressional race.

• Four people charged in the absentee ballot operation, that officials say tainted the results in the November election, appeared before a Wake County judge
• Right after the four were granted court-appointed attorneys, the Wake County DA actually asked to have their names pulled from the calendar
• Caitlyn Croom, Tonia Gordan, Matthew Mathis, and Rebecca Thompson have been charged with felony conspiracy for collecting and mailing in absentee ballots for Bladen County voters during the November election

Four people charged in the absentee ballot operation, that officials say tainted the results in the November election, appeared before a Wake County judge.

Right after the four were granted court appointed attorneys, the Wake County DA actually asked to have their names pulled from the calendar. The DA's office will follow up with them once they have their attorneys in place.

Caitlyn Croom, Tonia Gordan, Matthew Mathis, and Rebecca Thompson have been charged with felony conspiracy for collecting and mailing in absentee ballots for Bladen County voters during the November election, which is illegal in the state.

The four worked for McCrae Dowless, a political operative accused of plotting the absentee ballot scheme that's been called unlawful and coordinated by the State Board of Elections.

The 9th Congressional District stretched from Charlotte along the South Carolina border, through Bladen County.

The seat has been vacant since January, while a very extensive investigation has taken place.

The next steps for Dowless are also on hold while the state board of elections continues its investigation.

However, the board called for a new election and plan to send staff members to oversee the process.