George Papadopoulos: Disgraced former Trump aide runs for Congress in California
It comes after the resignation of Democrat Katie Hill, who announced she was quitting Congress on Sunday "with a broken heart".
Wednesday 30 October 2019 18:16, UK
A former Trump campaign aide who was jailed over the FBI's Russia probe is running for Congress in California.
George Papadopoulos, a former member of the foreign policy advisory panel to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has filed paperwork to run for the US House seat following the resignation of Democrat Katie Hill.
He tweeted: "Announcement soon on my interest in Katie Hill's soon to be vacant seat in the 25th district!"
Democrat Ms Hill announced she was quitting Congress on Sunday "with a broken heart" over an investigation into allegations she had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
The once rising star of the House of Representatives admitted to a consensual relationship with a campaign staff member but denied one with a congressional staff member, which would violate US House rules.
She has also called herself the victim of revenge porn after her husband, Kenny Heslep, allegedly leaked text messages and nude photos of her to the media.
In July, Mr Heslep filed for divorce after accusing her of having an extramarital affair with a male congressional staffer.
Papadopoulos criticised Ms Hill on the day she announced her resignation, tweeting: "I love my state too much to see it run down by candidates like Hill. All talk, no action, and a bunch of sellouts."
The 32-year-old was the first of five Trump aides to plead guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
He was also the first to detail a member of the Trump campaign having knowledge of the Russian efforts to meddle while it was going on.
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about the timing and significance of his contacts with the Russians and served 12 days in federal prison. He is currently on a 12-month supervised release.
He wants the government to declassify material, including authorisations by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, that he contends could prove he was unlawfully targeted.
A criminal investigation examining the origins of Mueller's probe is being conducted by a US attorney who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr.
Papadopoulosis up against at least three other Republicans and one Democrat for the US House seat.
The Republicans are Navy veteran Mike Garcia, bank executive Angela Jacobs Underwood and Mark Cripe, who works for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Democrat and State Assemblywoman Christy Smith is also in the running.
Ms Smith shared her opinion on Papadopoulos in a tweet on Tuesday, telling her followers: "If he pled guilty to lying to the FBI - how do we know he'll tell us the truth?"
"We deserve someone from our community serving as our voice - not (Trump's) wannabe political hack!"
A special election to fill Ms Hill's seat cannot be set until she leaves Congress.
Depending on how long she waits to leave office, it is possible there will be no special election, meaning the next election for the seat could be in November 2020.