Police this week arrested a Virginia Democrat on felony counts of voter and voter fraud.

Blacksburg Councilman Liam Watson, a 24-year-old Democratic operative, allegedly committed three counts of voter fraud and one count of illegal voting in an August 2023 election, according to the online court. records. A Montgomery County grand jury “handed up” the charges on Tuesday, and Watson turned himself in to the Virginia State Police (VSP) on Wednesday, according to VSP Public Relations Director Corinne Geller.

“The US Postal Inspection Service assisted the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation with this matter,” Geller said in an email. “The investigation remains ongoing.”

Watson allegedly “feloniously and willfully” made false statements or entries last year on her Virginia voter registration application, on an organizational candidate committee statement and on a declaration of candidacy form, according to the indictments obtained by The Federalist. He also allegedly “criminally and intentionally” voted in an election in which he was “not qualified to vote.”

All of the crimes were allegedly committed in Montgomery County, which contains the city of Blacksburg.

“Watson has served the citizens of Montgomery County in various roles for several years and was recently elected in a 2023 Blacksburg Citizens write-in campaign for a seat on the Blacksburg City Council,” his attorneys said in one statement to a local news outlet. “He is 24 years old, has a heart for public service and has worked diligently for the citizens who elected him.”

Ian Lichacz, who works for Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares' office, told The Federalist that state police approached his office in March.

“In this case in March, VSP came to the AG's office with evidence and asked for permission to investigate,” Lichacz said, “and the AG's office approved.”

The VSP then proceeded to investigate “an allegation of election fraud,” according to Geller.

Watson was released out of jail on a personal recognizance bond on all charges, Geller said.

Political knowledge

Watson has an extensive background in Democratic politics. He worked as press secretary for the Democratic Party of Virginia from June 2022 to December 2023, according to LinkedIn, and as a digital specialist for the Democratic Party of Georgia from May to June 2022.

The Roanoke Times reported Watson has been employed for nearly six months with Sapphire Strategies, which, according to the agency web site, specializes in “comprehensive digital strategy to help progressive campaigns and causes.” The group has done it work for Democrats like the former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former Obama cabinet member Julian Castro, according to its website. sapphire offers digital get-out-the-vote advertising to “convince all fence voters to become grassroots Democrats.”

Watson also publicly criticized Republican election security efforts.

In an October publication at X, Watson accused Virginia's Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, and state Republicans of “taking actions to undermine voting rights.” The indictment was in response to a hit New York Times article about grassroots election integrity groups “training poll watchers” and “recruiting poll workers.”

In another publication Last month, supporting the efforts of Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, Watson touted the importance of “work[ing] to expand access to early voting in Montgomery County to ensure that everyone, regardless of zip code, receives every opportunity to make their voice heard.”

Logan Washburn is a writer who covers election integrity. A graduate of Hillsdale College, he served as an editorial assistant to Christopher Rufo and holds titles at The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is originally from Central Oregon, but now lives in rural Michigan.