Judge: Tobin faces trial on charge of denying voting rights

[Judi Lynn]

Judge: Tobin faces trial on charge of denying voting rights
November 30, 2005

CONCORD, N.H. --A federal judge has ordered a former high-ranking Republican official to stand trial on a charge of conspiring to injure the voting rights of New Hampshire citizens.

U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe denied James Tobin's request to dismiss the charge Wednesday. Tobin also faces three other counts of taking part in a Republican plot to jam get-out-the-vote phone lines sponsored by the Democratic Party and the nonpartisan Manchester firefighters union on Election Day 2002. Both groups offered voters rides to the polls.

At the time, Tobin headed the national committee working to get Republicans elected to the U.S. Senate. Last year, he was the New England director of President Bush's re-election campaign, but he resigned a month before the election when the phone jamming accusations surfaced.

Three weeks ago, McAuliffe refused to dismiss the other three counts, but said he would consider the voting rights charge separately. Tobin's trial is scheduled to begin next week.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2005/11/30/judge_tobin_faces_trial_on_charge_of_denying_voting_rights/

[Lasher]

1. Wow, I can't keep up with all these 'values party' scandals.

[acmavm]

2. Another prime example of the moral bankruptcy of the republican party.

.

[Demeter]

3. Go Judge McAuliffe!

The man is more than a patriot.

[formercia]

4. This is important case law

that will show computer jamming a violations of rights. This could also apply to voting machines in the future.

[1932]

5. Huh?

[formercia]

9. The defense argued that there was no case law

about computers being used to deny voters from voting and wanted the charge thrown out. Computers were also used to modify the count in the central tabulators, thus denying peoples' votes from counting. Tobin hired a firm that used computers to jam the phone lines so voters couldn't get a ride to the polls. The net result was the same.

[Toots]

6. Can local folk file a civil suit against this scum as well?

The only thing that will bring a halt to these thugs is the legal system. so far they have not been able to totally secure it. Americans should start fighting in the courts if their Representatives will not fight for them. Sue the Bastards at every opportunity..

[WhiteTara]

8. Go Toots Go

The only thing that hurts them is the wallet.

[MountainLaurel]

7. Kick

Voting issues may be the downfall of our democracy.