WASHINGTON _ Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins was charged Tuesday with three felonies and a misdemeanor related to an investigation into whether he illegally voted in a 2019 municipal election.
Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, a Republican, announced the charges about a half-hour before Watkins, a first-term Topeka Republican, was set to appear on a televised debate with his primary challengers Jake LaTurner and Dennis Taylor on KSNT.
Watkins called the timing of the charges "hyper political" and "very suspicious," contending that the district attorney shared a consultant with one of his opponents _ a reference to LaTurner and Kagay's past use of Singularis, a direct mail firm in Overland Park.
"We've cooperated with the district attorney completely," Watkins said. "I look forward to clearing my name."
The felony charges are interference with law enforcement by providing false information, voting without being qualified and unlawful advance voting. Watkins also faces a misdemeanor charge for failing to notify the DMV of his change of address.
Watkins used a Topeka UPS store as his registration address for the 2019 municipal election and allegedly voted in the wrong city council district. Sources say Watkins was living with parents at the time, but used the UPS address to obscure that fact.
The voting without being qualified charge is a Level 7 felony, which if convicted could lead to a sentence of 15 to 17 months in prison for a first-time offender. The other two felony charges are Level 9 felonies, punishable by 7 to 9 months in prison.
The media learned of the charges before Watkins' attorneys, according to his campaign.
LaTurner called the charges against Watkins a key issue as the August 4 primary approaches and Republican voters in Kansas' 2nd Congressional District choose a nominee to face likely Democratic nominee Michelle De La Isla, the mayor of Topeka.
"She is well-funded. She is a candidate supported by Nancy Pelosi. We need to put our best foot forward," LaTurner said. "Clearly, our current congressman with three felony charges and a misdemeanor charge is not the person to do that."
Taylor, who served as secretary of administration under Gov. Sam Brownback, called the charges a distraction when the race should be focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and said he would leave it to the voters to judge the evidence against Watkins.
"We're in a war and that's what we need to focused on. And the other activities are a sideshow," Taylor said.
De La Isla, who was on her way into a city council meeting when the news broke, said in a statement that the allegations against Watkins are serious but she will "leave it up to our legal system to vet them" while she remains focused on health care and other issues.
The National Republican Congressional Committee said it was aware of the charges against Watkins and is seeking more information. Democrats quickly denounced him.
"If you want to be trusted to write our laws, you should at least follow them," Brooke Goren, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in an email. "Steve Watkins has proven that he can't pass this basic test, and it's clear why Kansans are ready for a change."
Kansas Republican chair Mike Kuckelman said he learned about the charges against Watkins on his way to another debate in the adjacent 3rd Congressional District.
"It's disappointing, the timing of it is difficult for Congressman Watkins," Kuckelman said. "Everyone who is charged is innocent until proven guilty and we have to wait for the trial. He should have a trial and see what the jury decides."
Kagay requested the investigation of Watkins by the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office in December of last year following a report in the Topeka Capital-Journal about Watkins using a UPS store for his registration address. Kagay's office said the investigation was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The charges are only one of the legal headaches facing Watkins, who was narrowly elected by less than a percentage point in 2018.
Steve Watkins Sr., the congressman's father and a Topeka physician, revealed in March that the Federal Election Commission was reviewing donations he steered to his son's 2018 campaign through other individuals, an action prohibited under federal law. The FEC has not taken action in the matter, but Watkins' campaign has racked up hefty legal bills since 2018.
