erieangel
Posts: 2237
Joined: 6/19/2011 Status: offline
|
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-jury-convicts-indiana-elections-chief-of-voter-fraud-20120204,0,105867.story An Indiana jury convicted embattled Republican Secretary of State Charlie White in the early hours of Saturday on six out of seven felony charges including perjury, theft and voter fraud. White was indicted last year on seven counts stemming in part from accusations that he lied about his home address while serving on the Fishers Town Council so that he could retain a stipend. Using his ex-wife's address allowed White to retain a $1,000-a-month stipend for his council seat and continue to pursue his political ambitions, prosecutors said. Separately, a Marion County judge in December ruled that White was not eligible to run for secretary of state in 2010 because he was not properly registered at his own address. White has been allowed to stay in office while he appeals that ruling. The Marion County judge ruled that the Democrat White defeated by more than 340,000 votes in 2010, Vop Osili, should be declared the winner of the election. White's conviction comes against a backdrop in which dozen on GOP-led legislatures have tightened voter ID requirements, allegedly to prevent voter registration fraud; they will actually create barriers to perceived Democratic voting blocks--students, the poor, the elderly. Against this backdrop, White's conviction is ironic.
|