Trump Accuses Kansas Group of Offering Gift Cards for Votes Ahead of Midterms

President Donald Trump on Sunday publicly accused a left-wing political group in Kansas of illegally offering gift cards to voters just days before the midterm elections. The allegations, based on evidence obtained by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, have sparked an investigation into potential election bribery ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

Trump’s Accusation and Evidence Presented

On Sunday, President Trump took to Truth Social to share what he called photographic proof that a “Radical Left PAC operative” was caught on camera going door to door in Wichita, Kansas, offering gift cards to residents in exchange for votes. Trump emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “We have photographic evidence. This is a Criminal Offense!” The claim was directly linked to information provided by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.

Investigation Initiated by Kansas Attorney General

The probe began after a Kansas voter reported being offered a $5 gift card by a canvasser who identified as working for the group Bluestem Kansas. In response, Kobach issued a cease-and-desist letter to Bluestem Kansas, ordering the group to immediately stop providing any monetary incentives tied to voting. The letter also demanded the preservation of all related records, including emails, text messages, canvassing scripts, training materials, payment data, and communications with vendors and canvassers.

Legal Ramifications Under State and Federal Law

Kansas law classifies offering anything of value to voters in exchange for their vote as election bribery, a severity level 7 nonperson felony. Additionally, federal law prohibits paying or offering to pay voters in elections involving federal candidates. Kobach condemned the alleged actions as blatant political corruption, comparing them to practices from Chicago in the 1950s. He stated, “As attorney general and before that as secretary of state, I have prosecuted many cases of voter fraud in Kansas, including voting by non-citizens and double voting. But I never thought that a group in Kansas would be so brazen as to go door-to-door three days before a general election offering voters monetary incentives. This sounds like Chicago in the 1950s, not Kansas in the 2020s.” Kobach further vowed that anyone violating election laws would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Call for Public Assistance and Evidence

Kobach’s office is actively seeking information from residents who may have been offered gift cards, cash, or other benefits by Bluestem Kansas canvassers. Those with photographs, videos, written materials, or any evidence relating to the alleged vote-buying scheme are urged to come forward. Residents can contact the Kansas Attorney General’s office at 785-296-2215 to provide information. The investigation aims to determine whether this activity was widespread and if other voters were targeted in similar ways.

As of now, no criminal charges have been filed against Bluestem Kansas or its canvassers, and the allegations remain under investigation. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about election integrity and the enforcement of voting laws in Kansas ahead of the midterm elections.