the issue as an overreaction to a simple mistake: "He just filed it incorrectly. I think that’s a little ludicrous," while Watkins said they were "very suspicious" and said he looked forward to clearing his name; he added, "This is clearly hyper-political. It comes out moments before our first debate and three weeks before the election. I haven't done anything wrong." Days later, Watkins stepped down from his assigned congressional committees. On July 14, 2020, Kagay charged Watkins with "interference with law enforcement, providing false information; voting without being qualified; unlawful advance voting; and failing to notify the DMV of change of address". Three of the alleged offenses were felonies, while the other was a misdemeanor. Watkins is alleged to have voted unlawfully in a November 2019 Topeka City Council race and to have attempted to mislead a sheriff’s detective. In March 2021, Watkins agreed to enter a diversion program and defer prosecution for six months; if he successfully completes the program the charges will be dropped. "I regret the error in my voter registration paperwork that led to these charges", he said. "I fully cooperated from the beginning and had no intent to deceive any one, at any time." He also admitted that he had lied to the detective when he denied having voted in Topeka's municipal elections. Since 2021, all charges against Watkins have been dismissed. Personal Watkins was married to Fong Liu, an obstetrician/gynecologist. Electoral history See also United States congressional delegations from Kansas References External links 1976 births 21st-century American politicians Living people People from Shawnee County, Kansas People from Topeka, Kansas Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas United States Military Academy alumni United States Army officers