Pat Gill provided testimony in the largest voter fraud trial ever conducted in Iowa. His actions led directly to the prosecution and conviction of Kim Taylor, wife of Republican Woodbury County Supervisor, Jeremy Taylor.
Pat's Role in the Trial
During the trial, Pat Gill, who served as the Woodbury County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, testified about various aspects of the election process and his observations regarding Kim Taylor's actions during the 2020 elections. Here is a summary of his key testimony:
Role and Responsibilities
- Pat Gill described his position as the Woodbury County Auditor and Recorder, as well as his responsibilities as the Commissioner of Elections. He has held this position since 1996 and oversees the election process, including absentee voting.
Absentee Ballot Concerns
- Gill explained that during the 2020 election cycle, there was a significant push to encourage absentee voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His office sent out pre-populated absentee ballot request forms to encourage voters to vote by mail.
- He observed Kim Taylor dropping off ballots and absentee forms on multiple occasions at the county's ballot drop boxes. Her husband, Jeremy Taylor, was in the vehicle during these instances.
Voting Irregularities
- Gill testified about concerns that arose during the 2020 general election, where he suspected voting irregularities. He contacted the Secretary of State’s office and was involved in verifying reports of issues with absentee ballots(CR23-4004 taylor, kim 1…).
- He recounted how voters and election clerks reported irregularities, prompting an investigation, although specific details were limited by objections in court about hearsay.
Documentation of Voter History
- Gill discussed pulling voter history from the iVoter registration database, detailing how he generated reports related to the case. These reports captured absentee voting records, which became key pieces of evidence in understanding the scope of the irregularities.
Witnesses
Based on the review of the available documents, here is a list of some witnesses who testified during the trial of United States of America v. Kim Phuong Taylor (CR23-4004-LTS):
- Pat Gill – Woodbury County Auditor, testified regarding the absentee ballot process and raised concerns about voter fraud during the 2020 elections .
- FBI Special Agent Matthew Murphy – Testified about the investigation into the alleged voter fraud, detailing interviews with community members and the grand jury proceedings .
- Hoang Luu – A citizen whose testimony focused on the language barrier and absentee ballot issues. He needed assistance reading and understanding English documents and voting materials .
- Huong Nguyen – Testified about interactions with Kim Taylor and the filling out of voting forms .
- Mai Do and Her Sons – Described how Kim Taylor allegedly filled out their absentee ballots without proper authorization .
- Minh Nhat Pham – Testified about his absentee ballot being submitted without his knowledge while he was away from home .
- Tam Doan – Similar testimony about absentee ballots being submitted without consent .
Prosecution Witnesses
- Multiple family members and individuals connected to the defendant testified about their interactions with Kim Taylor, focusing on her alleged involvement in voter fraud. These witnesses included individuals from the Vietnamese-American community, who were alleged to be involved in or influenced by Taylor in completing absentee ballots.
- Government agents, including FBI Special Agent Matthew Murphy, provided testimony related to the investigation and evidence collected.
Defense Witnesses
- The defense cross-examined these witnesses, challenging their credibility and the consistency of their statements.
- There was an attempt to argue that some of the individuals acted independently or with the implicit consent of family members, creating what the defense described as a "misunderstanding" rather than intentional fraud.
- The defense also presented arguments concerning lack of legal clarity on requirements for assisting non-English-speaking voters, suggesting there was no clear violation of voting laws.
What was said
- Prosecution's Argument: The government argued that Kim Taylor knowingly and willfully committed voter fraud, violating the Voting Rights Act and other legal statutes. Key evidence included absentee ballots allegedly filled out by Taylor or at her direction without proper consent from the voters, including forging signatures.
- Defense's Argument: The defense moved for acquittal under Rule 29, arguing that the government did not provide enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense claimed that much of the alleged fraud was a result of family members misunderstanding Taylor's role and that no clear willful intent to commit fraud was demonstrated.
- In one significant defense motion, they argued that evidence around certain family groups (e.g., the Doan children, Huynh family, and others) only indicated confusion or misunderstandings about who had authority to assist with absentee voting.
- The defense emphasized that Taylor did not act with criminal intent and pointed out inconsistencies in witness testimony.
Trial Outcome
- Guilty Verdict: The jury reached a unanimous verdict, finding Kim Phuong Taylor guilty on all 52 counts related to voter fraud. This includes violations of the Voting Rights Act and related charges. The jury polling confirmed that all jurors individually agreed with the guilty verdict across all counts.
- Post-Trial Motions: After the guilty verdict, the court discussed Taylor's continued release while awaiting sentencing. The defense indicated plans to file motions for judgment of acquittal and a new trial. The court agreed to allow Taylor to remain on pretrial release, pending further legal motions and sentencing.
This summary captures the overall flow of the trial, including the key testimony, the legal arguments, and the outcome of the case.
This testimony contributed to establishing the framework of how the alleged voter fraud occurred, particularly involving absentee ballots, and provided key evidence that supported the prosecution's case against Kim Taylor.
The full list of witnesses is included in the complete transcripts; more individuals from the Vietnamese-American community were also interviewed as part of the investigation and trial.