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Ex-Irvine councilmember faces more than 10 years in prison on perjury and voter fraud charges
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Erin Hauer / Dan Carino
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LAist
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The Orange County district attorney’s office announced Thursday that former Irvine councilmember Tammy Kim has been charged with multiple counts of perjury and voter fraud, including lying about where she was living when she was on the council in 2024.
Kim ran for mayor in 2024 and the district attorney's office says she lied about her residency then too.
What are the charges?
Kim is charged with 10 felony counts and one misdemeanor charge, including perjury, filing a false document and voter registration fraud. If convicted of all charges, she faces up to 10 years and 8 months in state prison. If convicted of the felony perjury charge, Kim would not be able to hold public office again.
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The family living at the address Kim used was unaware of the scheme, authorities said.
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Hundreds of California schools won the National Blue Ribbon honor before the program ended in August. -
Unhoused people sleeping in county parks and along flood control channels can now be immediately fined or jailed. -
The voter ID measure has been embroiled in legal battles ever since it was approved by the beach city's voters.
What does Kim say?
“We are entering a not guilty plea and we are going to launch a very rigorous defense,” Kim’s lawyer, Caroline Hahn, told LAist.
About the accusations
Prosecutors said that in 2024, Kim changed her driver’s license and voter registration to reflect an address that she has never lived at in the city’s District 5. (Authorities say her actual residence is located in District 3.) She would vote in November from the false address in that district’s election, prosecutors said. Voters must live in the district in which elections they vote.
When she did not win the mayoral race, Kim ran in the District 5 council race. In January, she dropped out of the City Council race after a lawsuit challenging her residency.
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What's next?
Kim is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
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We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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