Ex-head of Colorado Republicans charged with voter fraudDENVER (Reuters) - A Colorado talk radio host who once chaired the state Republican Party and has accused Democrats of widespread voter fraud has been charged with forging his ex-wife’s signature on a mail-in ballot in the 2016 election, court records showed on Wednesday. Steven Curtis, 57, who served as state GOP boss from 1997 until 1999, is charged with one felony count of forgery and one misdemeanor count of tampering with a mail-in ballot, according to a criminal complaint filed in Weld County District Court. The case stems from an inquiry lodged with the Weld County Clerk and Recorder’s Office by Curtis’s former spouse, Kelly Ireland, who contacted the agency in October to check on the status of her voter registration after the couple split. Ireland was informed then that a signed mail-in ballot bearing her name and voter information had already been submitted, according to Carly Koppes, an elected Republican who serves as the county clerk. “At that point, my office researched the situation further, and the signature was questionable, so we then contacted the District Attorney’s Office to start an investigation,” Koppes  told Reuters. If convicted, Curtis faces a maximum three years in prison for forgery and up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine for ballot-tampering, said Tyler Hill, a spokesman for the district attorney. Curtis’s lawyer, Christopher Gregory, declined comment. The former Republican Party boss hosts a morning political talk show on conservative Denver radio station KLZ-AM called “Wake Up With Steve Curtis.” Curtis spoke about election tampering in a segment titled “Voter Fraud and Other Democratic Misbehaviors” on his Oct. 6, 2016 broadcast. “It seems to me, and correct me if I’m wrong, but virtually every case of voter fraud I can remember in my lifetime was committed by Democrats,” Cutis said, according to an archived podcast on the station’s website. Prosecutors allege that weeks after that broadcast, he forged his ex-wife’s ballot. A spokeswoman for Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said the Curtis case is the only allegation of voter fraud in the state from the 2016 election cycle that has resulted in a prosecution. Curtis on Tuesday made his first appearance in court, where he was advised of the charges. A disposition hearing has been set for May, the District Attorney’s Office said. Republican President Donald Trump has claimed, without presenting evidence, that millions of illegal voters cast ballots in the 2016 election. politicsNews
colorado republicans charged voter frauddenver reuters a colorado talk radio host chaired state republican party accused democrats widespread voter fraud charged forging signature ballot election court records showed wednesday steven curtis served state gop boss charged one felony count forgery one misdemeanor count tampering ballot according criminal complaint filed weld county district court the case stems inquiry lodged weld county clerk recorder office curtis former spouse kelly ireland contacted agency october check status voter registration couple split ireland informed signed ballot bearing name voter information already submitted according carly copies elected republican serves county clerk at point office researched situation signature questionable contacted district attorney office start investigation copies told reuters if convicted curtis faces maximum three years prison forgery months jail fine said tyler hill spokesman district attorney curtis lawyer christopher gregory declined comment the former republican party boss hosts morning political talk show conservative denver radio station called wake up with steve curtis spoke election tampering segment titled voter fraud other democratic misbehavior broadcast it seems correct i wrong virtually every case voter fraud i remember lifetime committed democrats cuts said according archived podcast station website prosecutors allege weeks broadcast forged ballot a spokeswoman colorado secretary state wayne williams said curtis case allegation voter fraud state election cycle resulted prosecution curtis tuesday made first appearance court advised charges a disposition hearing set may district attorney office said republican president donald trump claimed without presenting evidence millions illegal voters cast ballots election politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Ex-head of Colorado Republicans charged with voter fraudDENVER (Reuters) - A Colorado talk radio host who once chaired the state Republican Party and has accused Democrats of widespread voter fraud has been charged with forging his ex-wife’s signature on a mail-in ballot in the 2016 election, court records showed on Wednesday. Steven Curtis, 57, who served as state GOP boss from 1997 until 1999, is charged with one felony count of forgery and one misdemeanor count of tampering with a mail-in ballot, according to a criminal complaint filed in Weld County District Court. The case stems from an inquiry lodged with the Weld County Clerk and Recorder’s Office by Curtis’s former spouse, Kelly Ireland, who contacted the agency in October to check on the status of her voter registration after the couple split. Ireland was informed then that a signed mail-in ballot bearing her name and voter information had already been submitted, according to Carly Koppes, an elected Republican who serves as the county clerk. “At that point, my office researched the situation further, and the signature was questionable, so we then contacted the District Attorney’s Office to start an investigation,” Koppes  told Reuters. If convicted, Curtis faces a maximum three years in prison for forgery and up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine for ballot-tampering, said Tyler Hill, a spokesman for the district attorney. Curtis’s lawyer, Christopher Gregory, declined comment. The former Republican Party boss hosts a morning political talk show on conservative Denver radio station KLZ-AM called “Wake Up With Steve Curtis.” Curtis spoke about election tampering in a segment titled “Voter Fraud and Other Democratic Misbehaviors” on his Oct. 6, 2016 broadcast. “It seems to me, and correct me if I’m wrong, but virtually every case of voter fraud I can remember in my lifetime was committed by Democrats,” Cutis said, according to an archived podcast on the station’s website. Prosecutors allege that weeks after that broadcast, he forged his ex-wife’s ballot. A spokeswoman for Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said the Curtis case is the only allegation of voter fraud in the state from the 2016 election cycle that has resulted in a prosecution. Curtis on Tuesday made his first appearance in court, where he was advised of the charges. A disposition hearing has been set for May, the District Attorney’s Office said. Republican President Donald Trump has claimed, without presenting evidence, that millions of illegal voters cast ballots in the 2016 election. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: colorado republicans charged voter frauddenver reuters a colorado talk radio host chaired state republican party accused democrats widespread voter fraud charged forging signature ballot election court records showed wednesday steven curtis served state gop boss charged one felony count forgery one misdemeanor count tampering ballot according criminal complaint filed weld county district court the case stems inquiry lodged weld county clerk recorder office curtis former spouse kelly ireland contacted agency october check status voter registration couple split ireland informed signed ballot bearing name voter information already submitted according carly copies elected republican serves county clerk at point office researched situation signature questionable contacted district attorney office start investigation copies told reuters if convicted curtis faces maximum three years prison forgery months jail fine said tyler hill spokesman district attorney curtis lawyer christopher gregory declined comment the former republican party boss hosts morning political talk show conservative denver radio station called wake up with steve curtis spoke election tampering segment titled voter fraud other democratic misbehavior broadcast it seems correct i wrong virtually every case voter fraud i remember lifetime committed democrats cuts said according archived podcast station website prosecutors allege weeks broadcast forged ballot a spokeswoman colorado secretary state wayne williams said curtis case allegation voter fraud state election cycle resulted prosecution curtis tuesday made first appearance court advised charges a disposition hearing set may district attorney office said republican president donald trump claimed without presenting evidence millions illegal voters cast ballots election politicsnews