PHOENIX (AP) — A leader of the conservative group Turning Point Action resigned from the organization Thursday and dropped his bid for reelection to the Arizona House of Representatives after he was accused of forging signatures on his nominating petitions.
Republican state Rep. Austin Smith has in the past promoted disproven allegations of election fraud.
A complaint filed by a Democratic activist in Smith’s district says several petition sheets contain signatures “that appear to have been written by the same person” and says “many of those signatures bear a striking resemblance to Smith’s.” It includes affidavits from two voters whose names were included in Smith’s petition but say they never signed.
Smith cast the allegations as a coordinated attack by Democrats that was “silly on its face,” but said he would drop out to avoid racking up legal bills.
Kourtney Kardashian is 45! The reality TV star and wife of Travis Barker gets heart
Is a 99% mortgage really that bad? This is Money podcast
You're sure of a warm welcome along the awe
China's Xi Jinping delivers unexpected speech at UN hours after US President Joe Biden speaks
Blackpool rocks! Inside the coastal town brimming with old
Blooming wonderful: Britain's best springtime escapes, from award
Humiliation for Saudi Arabia as it's 'forced to scale back $1.5trillion plans for 106
Georgia governor signs income tax cuts as property tax measure heads to November ballot
The best views in Britain? Three
Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers has a bone bruise in his sore left knee
Why Jimmy Mitchell's happy snap of his family boarding a plane saw him booted from a Jetstar flight