Randall County (TX) party chair charged with felony election fraud

[essentialsaltes]

The chair of the Randall County Republican Party was booked into jail Monday on a state felony election fraud charge.

Kelly Kenten Giles, 64, is accused of providing false information on his application and petition to run for the Randall County Republican Party Chair seat in December 2023 for a spot on the 2024 primary ballot, according to the grand jury indictment signed late last month. It is unclear what about his application or petition was considered fraudulent.

The offense is typically classified as a misdemeanor, but because Giles is accused of doing it while serving as an elected official, it becomes a felony.

Giles' arrest comes after years of Texas Republicans cracking down on election integrity in the years that follow the 2020 election, despite no such evidence of widespread fraud. This crackdown escalated days ago when a former Democratic state House candidate was indicted alongside nine others for alleged vote harvesting in South Texas.

[That latter event seems connected with this: see also]

 

[Fantine]

Why am I not surprised? The state government has closed numerous polling places, primarily in cities where Democrats are predominant, but also in counties--forcing some people to drive 45 miles to vote. They have closed down ballot drop boxes, doing everything possible to prevent probable Democratic votes.

So his reprehensible actions are just another part of the voter suppression effort.