Administrative judge rejects Jack Shepard complaint

Jack Shepard

Dr. Jack Shepard, perennial political candidate and an American fugitive living in Italy, lost his campaign complaint against GOP-endorsed candidate Teresa Collett earlier on Tuesday. Shepard, who challenged Collett in the Republican primary, filed a complaint against Collett claiming that she disseminated false campaign materials about his campaign. Collett bested Shepard with 67 percent of the primary vote on Aug. 10 and will be the GOP’s candidate in the Fourth Congressional District race.

Shepard said that Collett’s campaign lied when it sent emails that accused Shepard of planning to drop out of the race in November if he beat Collett in the primary, thus ensuring a win for incumbent Rep. Betty McCollum. The Office of Administrative Hearings disagreed.

“Dr. Shepard’s campaign material is overwhelmingly directed at defeating Ms. Collett’s candidacy to aide Ms. McCollum’s re-election effort. A person reading the Complainant’s many web postings would have reasonably understood that if the Complainant had won the Republican primary, he would continue to advocate for the re-election of Ms. McCollum.”

Shepard has filed a motion contesting the outcome of the primary and says he will appeal the OAH ruling dismissing his complaint.

Shepard has run for office in Minnesota numerous times, and law enforcement is looking for him in connection with arson.

The complaint dismissal can be viewed here: PDF