Kentucky Gov Ernie Fletcher (R) indicted.

[alfredo]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/14556190.htm


Grand jury indicts Gov. Ernie Fletcher
By Ryan Alessi
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Gov. Ernie Fletcher
The special grand jury that’s been investigating state government hiring practices indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on three misdemeanors for conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination.

The jury also indicted former Transportation Cabinet official Sam Beverage for perjury, which is a felony.

And the jury also submitted to Franklin Circuit Judge William Graham 14 more indictments that are under seal.

Those indictments cover crimes that may have occurred before Aug. 29, 2005, when Fletcher pardoned all administration officials except himself.

[babylonsister]

1. Funny how these indictees have R's after their names. nt

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Yes!

A day just isn't a day, anymore, without 2, 3, 4 or more repuke scandals.

Keep 'em coming!

[WI_DEM]

3. Good, I understand he has run a very crooked administration

serves him right. Now will he resign?

[alfredo]

23. He's wasted our money on bullshit. He fired experienced workers

because they would not change their registration to Republican. One that did got fired anyway. People with tattoos got fired. He's also intent on putting up a Ten Commandments fetish at the capital.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. You are shitting me. He actually fired people for not changing their voter

registration?

[alfredo]

28. Yes.

[Roland99]

29. Check out the Kentucky forum. We have a few threads on it.

Goes back to last year.

[saltpoint]

4. Hi, alfredo. Thanks for this uplifting report on Fletcher. I've felt

the guy's a slimeball for years, and I hope he is out of office soon.

And while we're at it, is there any indication that someone will place Jim Bunning in an attic somewhere -- with proper care, regular meals, health checkups, etc. -- all the amenities -- but nevertheless safely out of the U.S. Senate?

[alfredo]

9. GRIN!!!!

I'm so happy!!!


Bunning is such a turd. We'll vote his ass out of office in 2008.

[saltpoint]

13. Well, keep up the good work there in Kentucky. I like the trendlines!

[alfredo]

17. Our Fitzmas came today.

[Roland99]

19. Senile ol' bastard shouldn't have gotten thru in '04.

[electropop]

34. Perhaps Bunning's attic could be in New Orleans?

Just a thought.

[saltpoint]

38. New Orleans? Would he appreciate it? Awful lot of great music

down there.

I was thinking maybe Hayes, Kansas. Pleasant town, windswept plain but friendly folks.

But hell, I'm flexible, as long as we get him out of the U.S. Senate.

[wicket]

5. Holy shit!

:popcorn:

[jpak]

6. Link

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/may/11/051106750.html

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A grand jury investigating state hiring practices indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on misdemeanor charges Thursday, accusing him of conspiracy, official misconduct and violating the prohibition against political discrimination.

<one more para>

[katinmn]

7. Friday came early this week!

[rurallib]

8. Is there something in the river over there?

Ohio seems to have the same problems.

[alfredo]

14. Their religion gives them the right to ignore the law. Ernie is a

minister. He's been trying to Christianize Ky since day one.

[raccoon]

58. My guess is a lot of states have similar problems...

Gov. Fletcher just got caught.

[lpbk2713]

10. ANOTHER rethuglican in trouble with the law!?

Damn.

They're dropping like flies.

Just wait till the Dems get control of Congress. You aint seen nuthin yet.

[Roland99]

11. Meg Ryan voice: YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[alfredo]

16. Keep this kicked and please recommend.

This story can only get better.

[Roland99]

18. Already done did.

:D

[alfredo]

21. Thanks

[jarab]

25. Done!

...O...

[wherewingstakedream]

31. Fifth recommendation here!

Indict every one of these filthy rat bastards. :bounce: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[alfredo]

32. Thanks. I bet he pardons himself. I wouldn't put it past him.

[Roland99]

39. He'll probably have a relapse and go back into the hospital.

Get the sympathy boat afloat.

[alfredo]

40. Lol

[AlCzervik]

12. Shut up!!!! no fing way!!!

and by shut up i mean OMG i love it!!!

[Renew Deal]

15. What a crook.

Will he resign or do what Taft did? Pukes don't seem to care about the feelings of the people anymore.

[Zynx]

20. That makes two sitting Republican governors crooks.

Amazing. Also, they are neighboring states(OH and KY).

[alfredo]

22. He's going to have a news conference soon.

That little worm. I wonder how they Christian Right will react. He's our Tartuffe. His show of piety was just that, a show.

[Roland99]

54. Isn't a former or current Gov. of Georgia also in trouble?

[Malikshah]

26. Shhhh. Folks are having apopleptic fits over Dean right now.

Show some courtesy...

:)

Ah, May indictments...so springlike and fresh.

YAY-- POST 2000!!!

[alfredo]

27. This might be the first sitting Ky governor indicted. Bigger news than

what Dean might have said.

[Malikshah]

33. Agreed-- I neglected to use the heavy Sarcasm icon

:)

[alfredo]

36. What dean does is not as important than what we do to help

progressive candidates get elected. He gave us the go ahead to go grassroots, and that's enough for me.

[burythehatchet]

35. I propose a new emoticon

Group of smilies with torches and pitchforks.

[Roland99]

52. Closest I could find

[raggedcompany]

30. Culture of Corruption indeed. n/t

[brentspeak]

37. The problem is

Fletcher has prepared for just this situation: when he pardoned his administration officials, he not only pardoned them for past crimes, but also for any future indictments. That means, prosecutors won't be able to get their cooperation in assembling a case against Fletcher; there's no "plea bargain" or any kind of carrot they can use to leverage testimony from Fletcher's cronies.

[alfredo]

41. There was one other indicted, and 14 sealed indictments.

There may be some leverage still.

No telling what was told before the pardons.

[Roland99]

42. Here's a better article with a bit more detail, and a video link >>>>>>

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=4892965

Shortly after the indictments were returned, Fletcher appeared in Ashland for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the local hospital.

"Well, let me just say that I've said from the very beginning this thing has been conducted in a very politically charged way," Fletcher told WSAZ-TV. "My conscience is clear and let me say to the people of Kentucky we've worked very hard to make sure we've done everything to move this state forward. I'm very disappointed but we'll continue to move forward."

At the Capitol, Fletcher spokesman Brett Hall spoke briefly with reporters. "This has been a politically motivated, media driven investigation from the start," Hall said. "We are evaluating the charges, and, likewise, we are studying our recourse of action in the wake of this malicious prosecution."

The criminal indictment against Fletcher alleges he conspired with other administration officials, including former chief of staff Daniel Groves, on a hiring scheme dubbed the "Governor's Personnel Initiative." Administration officials, according to the indictment, crafted an elaborate system of screening job candidates for positions throughout state government. Those officials ran background checks on prospective job prospects' political affiliations and donations, according to the indictment.

video
"...my conscience is clear...."

[alfredo]

43. Ernie says he isn't going to quit and he is running for

reelection.

Oh boy I can't wait for 2007.

[Roland99]

44. Guess he'll try and pass legislation renaming the Ohio to DeNile

[alfredo]

45. He won't be too far from the the Tennessee River when

he is locked up in Eddyville.

[Roland99]

46. Oh, I wish it were felonies!

[alfredo]

48. There may still be hope. Has the Grand Jury been dismissed?

[Roland99]

49. Hmm...dunno.

[alfredo]

50. Remember when Scooter got indicted. We thought Fitz was

done, but he reconvened the GJ.

[Roland99]

51. Oh, we all expected that, though.

The GJ's term had expired. A GJ isn't convened for a particular case. Not sure how long this one has been in place.

[alfredo]

53. Nearly a year I believe.

[Fovea]

47. again with da culcha of corrupshun

Man, I am starting to be a bit surprised, and I figured there were a lot of crooks in the pachyderm party, but shee-it man.

Do you think there is a vast right wing conspiracy to take over the federal penitentiary system?

[wicket]

55. kick

:kick:

[newamericanpatriot]

56. A better story on it....

http://aliberaldose.blogspot.com/2006/05/gop-prisonwatch_12.html

[Roland99]

57. RWers will say KY has had a corrupt Gov for years (which is true)

But then they add on that this case is a political witch hunt.

:eyes:

[ridgerunner]

59. kick

its about damn time

more:http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/NEWS0104/605120397

[alfredo]

60. Had some right winger say that it was political. I schooled him on

the duties of the Attorney General, and reminded him it was a Grand Jury of citizens who made the decision to indict.