GOP Rep Charged With Felony Voter Fraud Steps Down From House Committees, Loses Major Endorsements

The Kansas City Star reports:

Kansas Republican Rep. Steve Watkins announced Friday he will voluntarily step down from his committee assignments in the U.S. House in the face of felony charges filed against him this week. Watkins’ decision to relinquish his committee posts comes as former political allies are distancing themselves from the first-term congressman. He’s become isolated in both Kansas and Washington, losing both his committee roles and endorsements.

Fellow Kansas Republican Rep. Ron Estes endorsed one of his primary opponents Thursday. Kansans For Life, the state’s leading anti-abortion group, pulled its endorsement ahead of the August 4 primary, a stunning rebuke of an incumbent congressman who has voted consistently for the group’s agenda. Watkins had used the address of a UPS store for his voter registration. He is also accused of lying to a Shawnee County detective.