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NBC 10 I-Team can't find any trace of Republican candidate who filed in 1st District race

Barrett Lynton has filed with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate for Congress in Rhode Island, but the NBC 10 I-Team can find no trace of anyone by that name. (WJAR)

Who is Barrett Lynton?

In a crowded field of more than a dozen Democrats, someone has filed with federal election authorities as a Republican in Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election.

But a funny thing happened on our way to try to interview that person.

We can't find any other trace of the person's existence.

NBC 10's Brian Crandall reports that the I-Team can find no trace of a person who filed as a candidate for Congress with the Federal Election Commission.{{ }}

A look at the long list of people who have filed federal statements of candidacy now includes the name Barrett Lynton.

Barrett Lynton filed on May 3, as a Republican, with an address in Smithfield.

The NBC 10 I-Team checked those property records, and found other names listed as the owners there.

One of the homeowners told NBC 10 News over the phone that she has no idea who Barrett Lynton is.

Barrett Lynton, a Republican candidate for Congresss, lists this Rhode Island home as their address, but the NBC 10 I-Team says no one by that name lives there. (WJAR)

Indeed, NBC 10 used online search tools and could not find a Barrett Lynton with that spelling in Rhode Island, or anywhere in the country.

The Rhode Island Secretary of State's Office said it has no record of a voter named Barrett Lynton.

The Rhode Island Republican Party told NBC 10 News that the party chairman "has had calls with several prospective candidates, but Barrett Lynton is not one of them. He has not reached out to the Party or notified us about his intent to run."

The homeowner at the given address does say they've recently begun getting mail addressed to Barrett Lynton, including from a Republican political strategist.

That firm has not returned messages from NBC 10.

The I-Team asked the Federal Elections Commission if it had any more information on the Barrett Lynton filing, and what kind of verification the agency conducts.

An FEC spokesperson did not address the filing specifically, but replied that the agency "has a verification process for potentially false and fictitious filings" that came as a result of increased false or questionable candidate filings in 2016.

If there are questions, the person would have 35 days to respond to a letter from the FEC.

The FEC notes that making a knowingly false statement to them is a crime that can result in legal punishment.

And the federal agency keeps a file of unverified candidates, some with names that look real, but plenty of others like The Batman, Dirty Cockroach, Buddy the Elf, Cranky for President, Taco Cat for President, of course Mickey Mouse, and plenty that cant be written here .

If you know Barrett Lynton, or if you are Barrett Lynton, let us know.

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NBC 10 I-Team can't find any trace of Republican candidate who filed in 1st District race - WJAR