The Case They Tried to Bury: How a Private Citizen Got the Commonwealth of Kentucky to Enforce the Law
The arrest of Thomas Dennis III reveals far more than voter fraud—it exposes a legal system selectively asleep.
Sometimes the news only tells half the story. And sometimes, that half is damning enough. On Thursday, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office announced the indictment of Covington resident Thomas Dennis III for felony voter fraud and perjury. (Two-page indictment here, courtesy of Link NKY).
Dennis, a convicted sex offender, had been registering to vote illegally since at least 2006. The Attorney General’s press release frames the charges as part of routine enforcement. But anyone familiar with the inner workings of Northern Kentucky knows the truth: this case almost disappeared, like many others.
According to my information, the local Commonwealth’s Attorney allegedly declined to pursue this investigation—despite overwhelming evidence. It was only after sustained pressure from a private citizen that the state, through the AG’s office, took action. The implication is that this was not a routine investigation. It was a forced intervention.
Let’s break this down:
The facts of the indictment are clear: Dennis was convicted of sexual misconduct in 1993 and then attempted to register to vote illegally in 2006, 2018, and 2020. These are not technical errors or gray areas. These are violations of basic election law.
The charges include three felony counts of wrongful registration and three misdemeanor counts of perjury. According to the AG’s office, the Department of Criminal Investigations conducted the inquiry. What’s left out? The case was pushed forward by a concerned citizen after local authorities refused to act.
The initial refusal to prosecute speaks volumes. What does it say about the integrity of a legal system when felony election fraud is ignored until a citizen forces the state’s hand? What kind of culture allows that?
This case proves something we’ve been striking at here at NKTAP: we are not dealing with isolated failures, but with institutional patterns of obstruction and decay. There is no meaningful rule of law if it only activates under duress.
At NKTAP, we believe this is just the beginning. This citizen-led effort will not be the last. We are currently coordinating with other concerned residents, legal analysts, and whistleblowers to uncover and document additional cases of political shielding, selective enforcement, and administrative misconduct.
Our message is clear: We will work with law enforcement when they act in good faith. We will resist them when they don’t.
This indictment was not just a legal victory—it was a signal: the community is watching, and we are no longer passive.
What Comes Next
We intend to continue working constructively with state and federal authorities—but only on the condition that they do their jobs. There is no more room for convenience-based justice. No more looking the other way. This is a new era of accountability.
Thomas Dennis III’s indictment is a small but significant step forward. But it should never have required citizen intervention. That it did is the real story.
And that story isn’t over.