Note from a doctor, arguments, lies at election fraud trial

September 2, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo County woman facing nine counts of election fraud showed up at the second day of her trial with a doctor’s note explaining her absence on Monday, asked for a public defender and repeatedly interrupted the judge.

While  SLO County Superior Court Judge Timothy Covello dropped the warrant he issued a day earlier, he questioned the legitimacy of two letters from a chiropractor calling it “self serving hearsay.” The notes mentioned fatigue, anxiety, a stomach ache, trouble forming sentences and a shaky voice.

“Unless you can’t get here, you need to be present,” Judge Covello said before noting that witnesses, defendants and attornies are often anxious and nauseous before a trial begins.

Powell responded by saying it was probably time for her to request an attorney.

Questioning if this was another attempt to delay the trial, Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal told the judge that Powell’s chiropractor’s office is located in the same building as her business –  Central Coast Thermography. And while the trial is expected to last for more than two weeks, Powell’s website was allowing people to book appointments for the remainder of the week, when Powell is supposed to be in court.

Judge Covello reminded Powell that he could not have made it clearer that she needed to have an attorney, but it was not something she would do at the start of trial. He found her failure to file motions on time, while she claimed she was working 24-seven on the case, not credible as he denied her request for an attorney.

Powell had filed multiple lengthy motions in her three civil cases unrelated to her criminal case, while claiming she was to ill to work, Covello said.

Powell interrupted Covello, yelling “Its not true.”

She said she filed the civil cases to get records he had denied giving her. Powell even claimed Covello told her to file the civil cases.

Covello said that never happened, and that if she is denied records in a criminal case, he would never tell her to file a civil case to find away around his ruling.

Powell’s plan was to compare multiple election fraud cases to support her allegation she is a targeted victim.

However, in his rulings on Powell’s motions in limine, Covello told her she was not permitted to compare other case and discuss irrelevant information in front of the jury. The remaining motions in limine are slated to be heard on Wednesday morning. Jury selection could begin in the afternoon.

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