The House Ethics Committee voted Thursday to open an investigation into Kansas Republican Rep. Steve Watkins.
Watkins, a first-term lawmaker, was defeated in his primary last week by Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner after he was charged on July 14 for “interference with a law enforcement officer, falsely report a felony intending to obstruct, voting without being qualified, and knowingly mark/transmit more than one advance ballot,” according to county records.
Watkins conceded he voted in the wrong City Council district when he used the address of a Topeka UPS store on his voter registration, but he claimed he did not intend any wrongdoing. The Kansas Republican called the accusations against him politically motivated.
Watkins resigned from his committee posts last month. Maryland Democratic Rep. Anthony Brown will chair the Investigative Subcommittee, along with Texas Republican Rep. Pete Olson as the ranking member.
