Overview
- Sen. Tom Pischke turned himself in Tuesday and was charged with two felonies for submitting falsified or forged nomination forms, with an initial court hearing set for July 7.
- County auditors flagged 16 nomination forms that arrived the day before the filing deadline after staff found addresses and handwriting that did not match voter records.
- The investigation used signature checks, interviews and forensic work that found a major DNA contributor on envelopes consistent with Pischke and video of a vehicle tied to his car near a mail drop.
- Pischke says he only filled out his own form, he consented to a DNA sample, he was released on a promise to appear, and he has stepped away from county party duties and will not attend the state GOP convention.
- If convicted he would be barred from state Republican Party office and could face questions about his ability to remain a legislator, and the case deepens factional disputes over control of powerful Minnehaha County GOP votes.