Kansas mayor accused of perjury gets diversion agreement Follow Us
Question of the Day By - Associated Press - Wednesday, February 3, 2021
SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) - The mayor of Shawnee, Kansas, has reached a diversion agreement with prosecutors that would resolve a perjury charge stemming from an open meetings complaint she filed using the name of another person without his permission.
An online notation in the case against Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler indicates an order of diversion was entered on Tuesday, the Kansas City Star reported.
Her attorney, Robin Fowler, said in an emailed statement that Distler believes the diversion agreement is an appropriate way to resolve the matter.
Emails reveal what was discussed in Shawnee mayor case. Did it violate Kansas law? Steve Vockrodt, The Kansas City Star
Dec. 24 An email chain that ultimately led to a perjury charge against Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler started with an activist who was upset about her refusal to break a tie for the city council president.
Mike Egan, a former Shawnee resident who now lives in Missouri s Ozarks but still uses email to regularly chime in on Shawnee civic affairs, sent a March 5 email to Distler, four council members and others who keep tabs on City Hall.
Egan s email, obtained by The Star through a Kansas Open Records Act request, blasted Distler for not breaking a 4-4 tie to choose a council president in January. Distler said at the time that she didn t want to insert herself in the vote, fearing it would make the Council appear even more divisive.