Diane Butler Nominated to Maryland Elections Board Amid Scrutiny

The nominee faced scrutiny over past statements and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but was advanced by a Senate panel.

Diane Butler, a Howard County Republican, was nominated to the Maryland State Board of Elections, replacing a member who resigned after being charged for participating in the Jan. 6 riot.
Butler faced questions about her whereabouts during the Jan. 6 attack and her beliefs in the integrity of the 2020 election.
She was approved by the Senate Executive Nominations Committee despite concerns over her past questioning of the 2020 ballot processing and a controversial email about mail-in ballot security.
Some senators expressed hesitations due to Butler's previous statements, including a controversial Facebook post, but the nomination was advanced with bipartisan support.
The full Senate is expected to vote on Butler's nomination in the coming weeks, amid a heightened level of scrutiny for election board nominees.