Election fraud suspect yelled at the judge, told him no

September 20, 2026

Gaea Powell, photo by Jeff Specht

By KAREN VELIE

As her trial was coming to a close, election fraud suspect Gaea Powell yelled, cried, threw things and told a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge no. While Powell regularly yelled at the judge, she behaved differently when jurors were in the courtroom.

Prosecutors charged Gaea Powell in June 2025 with violating multiple election laws when she ran for mayor of Arroyo Grande in 2022 and 2024. She allegedly registered to vote at an address on James Way in Arroyo Grande even though she lived on Heritage Lane in the county’s jurisdiction.

On Wednesday, as SLO County Superior Court Judge Timothy Covello was going over jury instructions with Powell and Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal, Covello made it clear that Powell was not to use her closing statement as testimony. Powell had elected not to testify, knowing Blumenthal would then be given a chance to cross examine her.

Powell screamed and cried at the same time, while throwing her computer accessories in a bag on the floor. She voiced concerns that by not allowing her to describe her conspiracy theories and state of mind, Covello was leaving her without a defense.

Covello told Powell she could not argue state of mind or intent on multiple charges, while allowing those arguments on other counts. Covello told Powell she was not to go outside the scope of what is relevant.

Covello then told Powell and Blumenthal that they were to return to court on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Powell yelled, saying she was not going to come in at 11:30 a.m., though she was planning to go to court at 1:30 p.m.

In response to Covello again telling Powell to be at court at 11:30 a.m., she said “no.”

Without the judge dismissing her, Powell then got up, walked to the door, yelled, “The constitution is simple,” and left the courtroom.

On Thursday morning, even though Powell did not show, Covello went over what could and could not be said in front of the jury.

In his closing statement, Blumenthal described the charges and argued that Powell knowingly violated election laws. He said Powell was very aware of the rules when she change her address to run for the Arroyo Grande mayor seat in 2022.

In June 2022, Powell voted from her Heritage Lane address. She then licensed a firearm using the Heritage Lane address.

A month later, Powell registered for a P.O. Box with a claim she lived on James Way in Arroyo Grande, Blumenthal said during his closing. The next day, she registered to vote from the James Way address.

Even though she never stayed at the James Way address, she continued to vote and run for office as an Arroyo Grande resident in 2024.

“It is obvious Mrs. Powell is guilty,” Blumenthal said. “Mrs. Powell knew that what she was doing was wrong. This was not someone who made an honest, good-faith mistake.”

During her closing, Powell argued the prosecution needed to prove she was not entitled to vote from the James Way address. She focused her arguments on intent and ignorance of the law.

During her closing statement on Friday, Powell would glance over at the judge before violating his order not to discuss specific arguments in front of the jury.  Blumenthal would then object and Covello would sustain.

“I am presumed innocent unless the evidence shows me guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” Powell said. “The verdict required is not guilty.”

The jury deliberated until 4:30 on Friday. They are scheduled to return on Monday morning.

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