Steve Watkins, GOP candidate for Congress, confronts allegations of sexual misconduct

[brooklynite]

Topeka Capital-Journal:

Acquaintances of Kansas congressional candidate Steve Watkins accused the Republican nominee of being unfaithful to his wife while claiming to be in an “open” marriage, and of instigating alleged sexual misconduct while a resident of Alaska.

Allegations emerged after the 2nd District began casting advance ballots but less than two weeks before the Nov. 6 election. Polling indicates the race between Watkins and Democrat Paul Davis is a tossup.

Watkins’ campaign declined to grant an interview with the candidate, but responded to written questions by denouncing the people who criticized him and assigning partisan motivation for the claims. A Watkins campaign aide also hinted at retaliation for publishing a story on Watkins’ personal life.

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Topeka resident Ellen Backus, who first became aware of Watkins while attending Topeka public schools and socialized with him over the years as an adult, said she attended a party with Watkins in October 2017 that illustrated the open-marriage dynamic. A woman who cuddled with Watkins at the party told Backus he was engaged but that Liu “understood what it was like to be in a long-distance relationship” and tolerated his affairs.