Candidate for Ward 6 Council Calls on City Council, Board of Elections to Investigate Credible Allegations of Election Fraud
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 29, 2026
CONTACT: Press Office, Murphy For Ward 6
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Approximately one week ago, WAMU reported on detailed, alleged election fraud from Khalil Lee, a candidate for D.C. 's at-large council seat. According to the report released by WAMU, the fraud is multi-faceted:
A D.C. Council candidate appears to have claimed donations from several people who say they did not contribute to his campaign, leading to calls for an investigation by city officials.
Two people listed as contributors to Khalil Lee’s campaign tell WAMU they never donated to the candidate in the independent at-large race, despite Lee filing a report earlier this month listing contributions from them. One person, who asked to remain anonymous out of privacy concerns, said Lee also listed their two children as contributors and volunteers gathering petition signatures for the campaign, even though they never gave money or worked for Lee.
Since the report surfaced on March 25th, neither the D.C. Council nor the Board of Elections have released a statement condemning these actions or indicating that they intend to take any investigative steps to determine the validity of the allegations.
The allegations come as D.C grapples with severe budget shortfalls, a sustained attack on Home Rule, and a looming threat of continued federal presence in the city.
“These allegations need to be addressed immediately, aired publicly, and, if it is determined that funds were unlawfully obtained through the ‘Fair Elections Program,’ then criminal and civil penalties should be pursued,” said Michael L. Murphy, candidate for Ward 6 Council. “We need leaders who demonstrate a willingness to address controversial issues head on and a basic ability to manage our own affairs. Despite a keen awareness of the fragility of our Home Rule, Charles Allen and the rest of the City Council sit idly by despite their collectively taking hundreds of thousands of tax dollars through the ‘Fair Elections Program’ to fund and further their careers as politicians.
These serious and credible allegations and our leaders’ inaction are the very type that threaten a Free D.C. The Council and the BOE need to step up immediately to investigate these claims of election fraud and demonstrate that they are capable of governing the District without inviting federal intervention.”
The collective inaction on the election fraud claims follow the same pattern of persistent silence that marked their response to credible allegations that MPD was manipulating violent crime stats in 2024 through 2025. Murphy was the first to publicly call out this practice in June 2025. Despite numerous active federal investigations, the Council chose to ignore the issue until it finally sent a letter to MPD in December 2025.
The issue of public trust in elections has become a focal point in both local and national politics, given the Trump Administration’s and the Congress’s hyperfocus on election and voter fraud.
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About Michael Murphy: Michael Murphy is a 30-year Capitol Hill resident, litigator, and candidate for the D.C. Council representing Ward 6. His platform, Murphy For Ward 6, is focused on restoring public safety, ensuring government transparency, and providing a unified approach to crime that protects every resident of the District.
For more information, visit murphyforward6.com/issues.
