DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa lawmaker is questioning Secretary of State Matt Schultz’s use of federal money to investigate allege voter fraud in Iowa.  Sen. Tom Courtney, a Burlington Democrat, says he has requested state and federal audits of Schultz’s use of funds from the Help America Vote Act to hire an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent.  Courtney says the money is supposed to be used to help educate voters. Schultz, a Republican, issued a statement Tuesday accusing Courtney of trying to block criminal investigations into voter fraud and election misconduct.
Three people were charged last month with voter fraud in Pottawattamie County as a result of the DCI probe. A Polk County judge also stopped Schultz’s efforts to change some aspects of the state’s voter laws that were challenged in court.