VIRGINIA BEACH — A special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate possible violations of the state’s election laws, and forgery, involving the gathering of signatures for Shaun Brown’s independent bid for the 2nd Congressional District.
Commonwealth’s Attorney for Virginia Beach Colin D. Stolle filed the request for a special prosecutor, saying “this office is so situated with respect to potential witnesses in this matter as to render it improper for this office to make any potential charging decisions or to prosecute such potential charges.”
The signatures were gathered by staff associated with Rep. Scott Taylor, R-2nd, and his reelection campaign. The move is an old political tactic – an effort to split a candidate’s opponent’s votes.
A Circuit Court judge in Virginia Beach has appointed Donald R. Caldwell, commonwealth’s attorney for Roanoke, as special prosecutor.
“This matter is in the investigatory stage regarding potential violations of the Code of Virginia, including violations of election laws and forgery,” Stolle wrote in his petition.
Four people whose signatures apparently appeared in the petition to get Brown on November’s ballot, told WHRO-FM Monday they never signed such document.
Another woman says her dead husband’s name is on the petition.
Taylor is running against Democrat Elaine Luria. Brown was the district’s Democratic candidate in 2016. The 2nd district includes Accomack and Northampton counties, portions of York County, and the cities of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Hampton.
Taylor’s office declined comment Tuesday.
“Democrats and Republicans agree that the integrity of our election process is paramount. 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,” said Jake Rubenstein, Democratic Party of Virginia spokesman. “We look forward to seeing the results of Commonwealth’s Attorney Caldwell’s investigation into this matter.”
