Kim Taylor, an Iowa woman, has been sentenced to a total of eight months, with half of that time to be served in federal prison and the other half in home confinement, for her role in a voter fraud scheme aimed at aiding her husband’s political ambitions. Taylor, the wife of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor, faced federal charges for her involvement in manipulating the voting process during the 2020 elections.
In November of last year, Taylor was convicted on 52 counts of voter fraud, which included 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, 23 counts of fraudulent voting, and three counts of fraudulent registration. As part of her sentence, she must also complete two years of supervised release and pay a special assessment fee of $5,200.
The voter fraud took place during the 2020 primary election and the 2020 general election. Jeremy Taylor, who had initially run for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District seat and lost in the primary, eventually secured a seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Kim Taylor, born in Vietnam, took advantage of voters within the local Vietnamese community who had limited English proficiency. She illegally filled out voting materials and forged signatures on behalf of these individuals, casting votes for family members, which is a crime.
The case has garnered national attention due to the sensitive nature of election integrity and the political implications of the crimes. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Leonard Strand, noted the White House’s current Democratic control and acknowledged that Kim Taylor’s actions supported her Republican husband’s election, raising concerns about whether a political angle might be perceived in the case. During sentencing, Judge Strand remarked, “there are people who are going to wonder if there’s a political angle.”
The tactics used during Kim Taylor’s arrest were also a point of contention. Rather than being asked to surrender, Taylor’s home was placed under surveillance, and she was apprehended by a strike team. This method of arrest was criticized by both Judge Strand and F. Montgomery Brown, Taylor’s defense attorney, as unnecessary and excessive for the nature of the crime.
Despite the seriousness of the offenses, Judge Strand determined that a downward variance from the sentencing guidelines, which suggested a sentence of 18 to 24 months, was justified. The mitigation evidence considered included Taylor’s lack of prior criminal history, her contributions to the community, and her role as a caretaker to multiple children. The judge emphasized that Taylor is unlikely to re-offend, particularly since she can no longer vote as a convicted felon.
Prosecutors were focused on the broader implications of the crime, stating that the “nature and circumstances are egregious,” and such actions “fuels distrust of the election system.” Meanwhile, Taylor’s defense attorney expressed satisfaction with the sentence, acknowledging the judge’s recognition of mitigating factors.
Jeremy Taylor has not been charged, though he was named an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the case. Following the conviction, he has refused to step down from the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors despite calls for his resignation. He has recently declared that he will not run for reelection.
Relevant articles:
– Iowa woman sentenced to eight months for voter fraud
– Northwest Iowa woman sentenced to 4 months in federal prison for voter fraud, Radio Iowa, Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:57:12 GMT
– Kim Taylor sentenced for more than 50 counts of election fraud, KELOLAND.com, Mon, 01 Apr 2024 21:43:06 GMT
– Iowa woman gets 4 months in ballot-stuffing scheme to help husband, Fox News, Tue, 02 Apr 2024 01:01:00 GMT