Former legislator indicted on 2018 election felonies

JUNEAU (AP) - A former Republican Alaska legislator was indicted on new felony charges alleging voter misconduct related to her 2018 election, according to an indictment released by the state Department of Law.

Gabrielle LeDoux pleaded not guilty June 10, the department said. She represented an Anchorage House district at the time of the alleged criminal acts.

LeDoux told the AP by text message she is “completely innocent of all charges. I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I look forward to clearing my name at trial.”

The department, in March 2020, announced charges against LeDoux; a former aide, Lisa Simpson; and Simpson’s son, Caden Vaught. LeDoux was serving in the Alaska House at the time. She lost her Republican primary last summer.

According to the state, LeDoux, Simpson and Vaught “solicited and/or encouraged people who did not live in her district to vote in the House District 15 primary and general elections” in 2018 and 2014.

A judge earlier this year dismissed two misdemeanor counts against LeDoux related to the 2014 campaign.

An indictment, dated June 2, 2021, wasn’t publicly announced until June 10. It included four new felony charges against LeDoux.

The indictment charges LeDoux and Simpson with a total of five felony counts of voter misconduct and Vaught with four.

Simpson’s attorney, Rex Butler, said his client pleaded not guilty and is innocent, and said “we intend to fight it out all the way.”

A message seeking comment was left for attorney Paul Ervasti, who court records show is representing Vaught. The Department of Law said Vaught has pleaded not guilty.

 

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