US Senate Hopeful’s Petitions Allegedly Colorful

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A former U.S. Senate candidate in South Dakota who has been indicted on election law violations allegedly submitted nominating petitions with the names of dead people, fictitious people and Hollywood celebrities.

Clayton Walker is an independent who failed to make the November ballot. He's now jailed without bond in Pierre while he awaits an Oct. 7 court hearing on election fraud charges.

The Rapid City Journal reports court documents show the nominating petitions Walker submitted to the state included the names of actors such as Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds and odd names such as Black Notes and Cherry Drop.

Walker's court-appointed attorney didn't respond to a request for comment. Walker has said in the past that he believes the complaint against him was politically motivated.

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