KS-02: Detective alleges Watkins falsely claimed he didn't vote in Topeka city council race

Kansas Congressman Steve Watkins falsely told a detective he didn’t vote in a 2019 Topeka city council election, according to allegations made in an affidavit in support of criminal charges against Watkins.

The document also alleges Watkins told the Shawnee County Sheriff’s detective he didn’t sign an advance ballot application ahead of the election but that he would have directed an employee to complete it.

Watkins is charged with illegally voting in the 2019 election, as well as lying to law enforcement. In total, he faces three felony charges and a misdemeanor.

The affidavit paints the fullest picture yet of the criminal case against Watkins filed by Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay and the evidence prosecutors are relying on. It details, for the first time, the false statement Watkins is alleged to have made and outlines how the detective conducted her investigation.

The release of the affidavit, requested by The Kansas City Star and other news outlets, comes less than a week before the first-term GOP congressman faces State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Dennis Taylor in the Republican primary for the Kansas 2nd Congressional District.




https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article244568207.html#storylink=cpy