http://aliberaldose.blogspot.com/2006/05/gop-prisonwatch_12.htmlIn a massive, unprecedented collapse, over a dozen executive members of Kentucky's state government have been indicted on charges ranging from conspiracy to perjury, in a pit of criminal quicksand that has finally pulled down even the governor.
Events culminated in today's grand jury indictment of Governor Ernie Fletcher on three counts of conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination. While all three charges are classified as misdemeanors, the maximum punishment for official misconduct is up to 12 months in jail and a $500 fine.
The other two charges carry a maximum punishment of six months in jail, forfeiture of state office, and a ban on holding any state job for five years.
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In addition to the governor, 13 Republican administration officials have been indicted with 48 misdemeanor and 22 felony charges, including conspiracy, perjury, attempting to influence witnesses, and shredding and altering evidence. Among the list are the Republican state chairman and treasurer, and 14 additional sealed indictments are pending.
The names of the other indictees is a virtual roll call of the Republican state cabinet: Republican State Chairman Darrell Brock, Republican State Treasurer Dave Disponett, Republican party official J. Marshall Hughes, chief of staff Daniel Groves, deputy chief of staff Dick Murgatroyd, state personnel adviser Basil Turbyfill, outreach office member Vine Fields, transportation executive director Cory Meadows, transportation secretary Bill Nighbert, transportation cabinet commissioner Dan Druen, and transportation cabinet official Sam Beverage.
The charges are the fruition of a yearlong investigation by state attorney general Greg Stumbo, acting on a complaint filed by former assistant transportation personnel director Douglas W. Doerting. Deorting produced emails and other unspecified evidence that the governor and 12 of his associates had conspired to hire, fire, promote and demote state employees based upon personal friendships and Republican party loyalty in violation of merit-based state employment laws. Stumbo's office described the Governor's Personnel Initiative program as a "corrupt political machine" designed to fill state jobs with Republican associates.
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wow! give Greg Stumbo a gold star