• Editor’s note: As a footnote to Trump leaving office tomorrow, the challenges to the Washington election, including to Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, require a perspective and our attention.
• Culp followed President Trump’s roadmap to challenge election results in this state by following the most loyal allies and listening increasingly to conspiracy theories, which echoed his own views and offered an illusion, and an alternate reality.
• To impinge the credibility of certain county auditors, including Thurston’s Mary Hall, without any credible evidence, was an attempt to undermine our election process by causing voters’ doubt.
• THIS IS NOT OK!
• The more educated voters of the state, conversant with facts, saw right through such a charade. Culp lost by 545,177 votes.
• The disinfectant of sunlight and transparency is required so this does not occur here again!
• We just can’t pretend this was the proper manner of elections in a Constitutional Republic!
• WA. Democrats filed a Bar Complaint against Culp’s Campaign Lawyer.
• And Culp put Yelm in the spotlight by violating Governor Inslee’s COVID-19 regulations in conducting rallies with large crowds, few masks, and no social distancing.
• Excerpts from these stories below reflect the assault on democracy in our state and are posted here for historical and archival purposes:

+ Seattle Times: Former gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp drops election fraud lawsuit after Washington state threatens legal sanctions

“Culp’s lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court last month, tried to sow doubts about his 545,000-vote loss to Gov. Jay Inslee. It claimed “intolerable voting anomalies” in an election “that was at all times fraudulent.”

“But, facing a threat of legal sanctions for making meritless claims in a court of law, Culp’s attorney, Stephen Pidgeon, withdrew the lawsuit Thursday night [Jan. 14], according to a copy of his motion supplied by the state Attorney General’s office.

“The lawsuit was withdrawn “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled.

“The about-face by Culp occurred after Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office warned Pidgeon that the state intended to file a motion to dismiss the case, and intended to take the unusual step of asking a judge to impose sanctions unless Pidgeon withdrew the case by noon Friday.

“The notice, which Ferguson personally signed off on, said the claims made by the Culp campaign were “‘factually baseless.'”

“Culp’s tactics — and resulting defeat — are reminiscent of the post-election flailing by President Donald Trump, who similarly leveled debunked fraud claims in an unsuccessful effort to overturn his loss to President-elect Joe Biden.

“‘Rather than concede gracefully, Mr. Culp has used this lawsuit to distract from the magnitude of his loss and to sow confusion. Mr. Culp also fundraised off his baseless allegations [AG Ferguson’s notice said],'” by Jim Brunner and Joseph O’Sullivan, The Seattle Times. Read more

+ Seattle P-I: Former Washington gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp drops election lawsuit

“The lawsuit challenged the results in King, Pierce, Thurston, Clark, Skagit and Kitsap counties and demanded audits of voting machines, paper ballots and results. All six counties were won by Gov. Jay Inslee and Culp lost the state by 545,177 votes, according to a SeattlePI analysis of election results.

“‘These unsubstantiated allegations were without merit and created confusion among Washington voters,’ said Wyman in a statement Friday [Jan 15]. ‘Today we finally have an opportunity to shed light on some of the misleading and inaccurate assumptions made in this lawsuit, and can continue working to restore confidence with a swath of Washington’s electorate.'”

“On Friday [Jan 15], the Washington State Democratic Party announced they have filed a bar complaint against Pidgeon for “violations of his oath to defend the U.S. and Washington State Constitutions” and are seeking disciplinary action.“

“The newly-filed complaint claims that Pidgeon used the courts for ‘desperate and legally unjustifiable attempt to undermine the electoral process on behalf of his defeated client’ and imposed costs on Washington taxpayers,’ by Callie Craighead, Seattle P-I. Read more

+ Secretary of State Kim Wyman: Culp for Governor campaign lawsuit against Wyman, election officials, dismissed

“‘As I have said before, I welcome anyone who has questions about Washington’s elections processes or who has substantive evidence of fraud to reach out to my office. I publicly invited Loren Culp to do the same, and he never contacted me or my office to share his concerns,’ Wyman said.” Read more

+ Washington Democrats: Washington State Democratic Party announced they have filed a bar complaint against Pidgeon [Culp Campaign Lawyer]

“The complaint seeks an immediate investigation into Dr. Pidgeon’s multiple violations of his oath to defend the U.S. and Washington State Constitutions and impose appropriate disciplinary action. 

Specifically, Dr. Pidgeon has repeatedly advanced meritless allegations of unspecified election fraud in his representative capacity for the Culp for Governor campaign in the case of Culp for Governor vs. Wyman et al., (King County Superior Court Cause No. 20-2-17720-2 SEA). His use of the judicial system to advance these frivolous claims undermines both public confidence in the democratic process and has contributed to the spread of disinformation that has resulted in threats of violence against election officials — including Washington’s own Republican Secretary of State.” Read more

+ NVN: Washington Governor Candidate Loren Culp Draws Hundreds for Rally in Yelm [July 2020]

• Editor’s note: Culp violated state COVID-19 regulations right here in Yelm by conducting rallies with large crowds, few masks, and no social distancing. Where was this man’s leadership in taking precautions caring for his constituents’ health?
• Culp did not earn this state’s trust to be a leader!