KBI director in defendant’s chair. Vance praises redistricting. Anti-Brownback attacks.

By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor

TOPEKA — Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director and U.S. district judge nominee Tony Mattivi found himself Monday in the unusual position of defendant in a civil trial playing out in the same federal courtroom where he previously prosecuted violent crimes, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Mattivi sat between two defense lawyers for start of a trial propelled by the lawsuit filed by former KBI Associate Director David Hutchings, a 32-year KBI veteran who departed the agency after a management scuffle with Mattivi. Hutchings filed suit alleging Mattivi had a right to strip him of an administrative post but violated his constitutionally protected property right by preventing him from transferring to the job of special agent in charge at KBI.

In court filings, Mattivi’s attorneys contend the KBI director in June 2023 requested Hutchings take the honorable path and voluntarily resign rather than face termination proceedings. Mattivi’s lawyers say Hutchings consented to resign but tried to reverse that decision days later in anticipation of receiving a financial settlement.

In addition, Mattivi’s defense team plans to introduce evidence there were sound reasons to move ahead with firing Hutchings over allegedly improper or illegal acts at the KBI. Court records accuse Hutchings of secretly reading employee emails, recording employee conversations, maintaining “shadow” files of private information to undermine colleagues and improperly withholding from courts incriminating evidence against law enforcement officers.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vice President JD Vance ticked through a list of political topics — from Missouri’s redistricting efforts to the importance of bringing manufacturing back to the United States — at a campaign-style rally Monday afternoon. 

TOPEKA — Democratic governor candidate Ethan Corson reached into the Kansas political playbook to reprise the guilt-by-association strategy of attacking Republican candidates by linking them to historically unpopular former Gov. Sam Brownback.

TOPEKA — Wildfires are burning thousands of acres in southwest Kansas, and emergency management personnel from across the state are working to gain control and keep communities safe. 

TOPEKA — Kansas Insurance Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vicki Schmidt chose Monday to name the president of Kansas Farm Bureau as her lieutenant governor running mate, less than three months before the pivotal August primary election.

TOPEKA — When reporters at a Kansas newspaper heard about the gruesome death of a local 13-year-old boy in December, one tried to get the court records that could establish an official account of how the boy died.

By Emily Bradbury

SB 204’s purpose was to prevent criminals from learning about a case before they are arrested, thereby reducing the likelihood that they could use that information to avoid or impede arrest. But in a misguided attempt to achieve that goal, the statute forces courts to falsely claim that a case does not exist when, in fact, it does, preemptively thwarting any attempt by the public to access traditionally open court records.

TOPEKA — Retired Air Force Col. Chris Carmichael believes he can defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Estes in the 4th District congressional race, even though the incumbent won the seat by a 30-point margin two years ago.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday a new “anti-weaponization” settlement fund as a condition of President Donald Trump voluntarily dropping his multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for the leak of his tax returns several years ago.

In recent weeks, the Supreme Court has effectively allowed last-minute election changes in Southern states that hold major consequences for what districts voters are assigned to and the future of Black political representation across the region.

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