Current Events > Kansas Congressman being investigated for voter fraud

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https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article238033644.html

Shawnee Countys district attorney has asked the countys sheriffs office to investigate whether a Kansas congressman voted illegally in Topekas city election last month.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Tuesday that Rep. Steve Watkins, R-Kansas, changed his voter registration in August to the address of a UPS store in Topeka. The address, located in Topekas 8th City Council District, was the one he used in Novembers election when the winner of the council race was decided by just 13 votes.

The revelation immediately sparked calls for an investigation into whether the congressman had committed voter fraud, which Kansas has aggressively prosecuted in recent years.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay confirmed Wednesday morning that he was aware of the matter and planned to conduct a preliminary review into whether Watkins broke the law.

I think its safe to say any time Im made aware of potential criminal wrongdoing arising from my jurisdiction its my responsibility to at least do my due diligence, Kagay told The Star.

A half hour later, Kagays office said that he had officially asked the Shawnee County Sheriffs Office to investigate the allegations.

As with any alleged criminal conduct said to have occurred within Shawnee County, I have requested that local law enforcement investigate the matter. In this instance, I have contacted the Shawnee County Sheriffs Office, Kagay said in a statement. Once their investigation is complete, law enforcement will forward the results to my office for review.

Watkins chief of staff Jim Joice has dismissed the controversy, saying that the freshman Republican made an error when he filled out his registration form in August.

Steve listed his mailing address instead of his physical address. He lives at the Overlook Apartments off Wanamaker (Rd.) in Topeka. This was inadvertent and both addresses are in the same county and same congressional district, so there was no improper purpose, Joice said. The paperwork is being corrected.

All of the addresses are in the same congressional district, but they fall into separate city council districts.

Watkins had previously been registered at an address in the 5th City Council District. The Overlook Apartments are in Topekas 9th City Council District.

Watkins voted in the 8th District race, where challenger Spencer Duncan defeated incumbent Jeff Coen by 13 votes.

Duncan, a statehouse lobbyist, said Wednesday he has known Watkins since childhood but that they are not close. Watkins was not involved in Duncans campaign, he said, and the two havent spoken since 2018.

It doesnt impact, at the end of the day, the outcome of the election, Duncan said. But Im like every citizen and voter. If theres voter fraud out there, it needs to be addressed.

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Antifar posted...

Rep. Steve Watkins, R-Kansas,

I'm so surprised


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why did they spell Arkansas like that

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republicans cheat because of course they do that is the only way they win anything

It's funny because Kansas has such a boner for voter fraud due to Kris Kobach that they are going to have real difficulty side-stepping this.
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Thank god our voter fraud laws prevented this!
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Were_Wyrm posted...

Thank god our voter fraud laws prevented this!

This was a city election, so any possible Federal voter ID laws would not have applied regardless.

Stop shitposting.
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Came in expecting a republican, got a republican.
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Bio1590 posted...

Were_Wyrm posted...

Thank god our voter fraud laws prevented this!

This was a city election, so any possible Federal voter ID laws would not have applied regardless.

Stop shitposting.

They're state laws which cover all government elections in the state. I had to show my ID to vote in my cities election.

Maybe you should stop shitposting
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Doom_Art posted...

I'm so surprised

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Yet they are always crying about voter fraud when they lose lol

A Republican commiting voter fraud is the least surprising thing.

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Gerry mandering and voter fraud is what the republicans love to do