Johnson County's top lawyer sounded concerns that sheriff was trying to interfere with elections

Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden, who said his office is investigating fraud in the 2020 election without offering specifics or evidence, made requests to have law enforcement involved in upcoming elections, according to a memo written by the county's chief legal counsel.
Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden questioned county election officials at a private meeting earlier this month about why ballot drop boxes were available at public libraries in the 2020 election, and asked whether drop boxes would be eliminated in future elections.

At that meeting, held on July 5, a Hayden staffer also requested that sheriff’s deputies be present at the Johnson County Election Office when ballots were counted at upcoming elections.

And Hayden offered to have his staff drive in unmarked vehicles to pick up ballots from ballot drop boxes.

Those are among some of the requests Hayden made during the July 5 meeting with Johnson County Election Office, according to a memo written two days later by Peg Trent, Johnson County’s chief legal counsel.