
A special prosecutor will investigate whether Virginia election laws were broken in the gathering of signatures for Shaun Brown’s independent bid for the 2nd Congressional District.
The signatures were gathered by staff associated with the re-election campaign of Rep. Scott Taylor, R-2nd, in what appears to be an attempt to split opponents’ votes.
Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin D. Stolle said in his request for a special prosecutor that the investigation includes possible forgery as well as violations of election laws.
Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney Donald R. Caldwell has been appointed as special prosecutor in the case.
Four people whose signatures apparently appeared on the petition to get Brown on November’s ballot told WHRO-FM on Monday they never signed such a document.
Taylor’s office declined comment Tuesday.
“Democrats and Republicans agree that the integrity of our election process is paramount,” said Jake Rubenstein, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia. “VA-02 voters deserve to know if Congressman Taylor’s paid staff violated the law, and if all candidates received the required number of signatures to make the ballot this November.”
This story was published in partnership with our sister publication, Southside Daily.