Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz will not heed the recommendation issued this week by the State Auditor’s Office urging him to draft contingency plans in case a commission determines his office misused federal funds in a voter fraud investigation. Chief Deputy State Auditor Warren Jenkins advised Schultz in a letter dated Dec. 18 that his office should develop a plan to repay federal funds granted to the office under the Help America Vote Act in case the U.S. Election Assistance Commission decides a two-year agreement Schultz struck with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to look into voter fraud cases is an ineligible use of such funds.
To date, Schultz’s office has spent about $150,000 of the so-called HAVA funds on the investigation, which has resulted in fewer than 20 criminal charges and five guilty pleas.
In a formal response to Jenkins’ advice, Schultz’s office said it would comply with any directives from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.