A new report from the Kansas City Star shows how Kansas Senate candidate Congressman Roger Marshall used political and business relationships to erase a reckless driving conviction in an arrangement described as “bizarre” and “very unusual.” The report reveals for the first time that the county prosecutor handling Marshall’s case was the son of Marshall’s neighbor, business partner, and campaign donor.
Weeks after Marshall was found guilty of reckless driving, the prosecutor asked a judge to erase the conviction from Marshall’s record and replace it with a minor traffic infraction. Marshall, his counsel, and the prosecutor had all signed and approved of the original document that showed Marshall was convicted of reckless driving prior to the prosecutor telling the judge that the document was “typed up the other way” and asking for the conviction to be erased.
Marshall’s campaign offered “no explanation” for the request to erase the conviction. The Kansas City Star and the campaign of GOP primary opponent Kris Kobach have asked Congressman Marshall to release a sealed affidavit that contains more information about why Marshall was convicted of reckless driving and charged with battery, but Marshall has refused.
“This type of corruption and backroom dealing is exactly what Kansans can’t stand about Washington,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “Congressman Marshall owes Kansans an explanation of how he used his chummy relationship with a prosecutor to get himself off the hook for a criminal conviction, and should immediately release the affidavit and stop hiding the facts from Kansas voters.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Kansas City Star: Roger Marshall was convicted of reckless driving in 2008. Here’s how it was erased
By Jonathan Shorman and Bryan Lowry
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Kansas City Star: ‘Great irregularities.’ Kobach calls on Marshall to release affidavit in 2008 case
By Bryan Lowry
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