South Dakota Incumbent Republican Lawmaker Facing Felony Election Fraud Counts
Investigators say 13 people denied signing the forms, and forensic analysts found DNA consistent with Pischke on envelopes mailed to the auditor's office.
- On Monday, June 22, prosecutors charged South Dakota Senate Majority Whip Sen. Tom Pischke with two felony counts of filing forged candidacy forms. He voluntarily turned himself in to the Minnehaha County Jail on Tuesday and was released on a personal recognizance bond.
- Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson launched an investigation on March 30 after noticing 16 precinct committee forms with conspicuously similar handwriting and discrepancies between listed addresses and voter registration files.
- Forensic analysis linked Pischke to the documents through surveillance video of his vehicle at a postal box and DNA evidence on the envelopes. Detectives confirmed the majority of 16 purported candidates never signed the forms or knew their purpose.
- Facing a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted, Pischke relinquished his Minnehaha County Republican Party duties. South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Jim Eschenbaum said it was "a bummer" to learn charges were filed.
- The biennial Republican Party state convention begins Thursday without Pischke, who secured a third term in the June 2 primary. Conviction could bar him from holding party positions or serving in the South Dakota Legislature under state law.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Republican lawmaker faces felony charges after 16 documents forged: report
A South Dakota state senator was charged with two felonies Tuesday for allegedly trying to put candidates for county party leadership posts on the primary election ballot without those candidates’ knowledge.If convicted on both counts of offering a false or forged instrument for filing, 44-year-old ...
SD State Senator Faces Election Fraud Charges
South Dakota's No. 2 Republican in the state Senate is facing two felony counts tied to allegedly bogus election paperwork for state Republican party positions. Court records show Senate Majority Whip Tom Pischke, 44, is charged with filing false or forged instruments after an investigation into suspicious precinct committeeman and...
Associated Press News
South Dakota incumbent Republican lawmaker facing felony election fraud counts
An incumbent South Dakota Republican state senator is facing two felony counts after an investigation found falsified signatures on forms he tried to submit for state GOP positions.
South Dakota state senator hit with felony charges in election fraud case
SIOUX FALLS — A South Dakota state senator is facing felony charges related to accusations of forgery involving the Republican primary election. Sen. Tom Pischke was charged Monday, June 22, with two felony counts of filing a false or forged instrument. An arrest warrant was issued for the Dell Rapids Republican on Monday, with the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office confirming Pischke voluntarily turned himself in to the county jail on Tuesday. H…
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