Posted on 10/16/2004 4:10:31 AM PDT by csvset
Nader's chief in Virginia is indicted on election fraud
By JON FRANK , The Virginian-Pilot
© October 16, 2004
Last updated: 1:56 AM
|
| James P. Polk
|
|
|
The charges stem from petitions to get the consumer-rights advocate on the Virginia presidential ballot in November.
Polk, 47, turned himself in to Virginia Beach police Friday afternoon. He was released on personal recognizance.
A special grand jury indicted him Thursday. Polk’s indictment is thought to be the first in the nation alleging election fraud by a Nader campaign official during the fiercely contested 2004 presidential campaign.
The 10-count indictment alleges that Polk made or caused to be made “a false material statement or entry” on a petition to put Nader’s name on the ballot.
The false statements allegedly were made from Aug. 5 to 18 in Virginia Beach.
The indictment contains no further details.
Kevin Zeese, a spokesman in Washington for Nader’s national office, said he had not seen the indictment.
“I just hope this is not a political move to undermine the Nader campaign,” he said.
Although Nader’s supporters did not get his name on the Virginia ballot, Zeese said, there is still an active write-in campaign in the state.
The Virginia effort failed when Nader supporters presented petitions with 14,000 signatures, only about 7,000 of which were certified. State law requires 10,000 certified signatures.
Nader is viewed as an important wild card in this year’s presidential election, especially in several battleground states where he is on the ballot.
Polk, a former Republican activist and an Air Force veteran who lives in Virginia Beach, could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey L. Bryant III said irregularities in the Nader petitions first were noticed by members of the Virginia Beach voter registrar’s office. He provided no other details.
“The integrity of the election process is very important,” Bryant said. “The laws governing it should be followed scrupulously.”
Bryant, who has been commonwealth’s attorney since 2000 and was formerly a federal prosecutor, said such indictments are rare.
He said he has never been involved in an election fraud prosecution involving improper petitions.
Polk, a psychologist, worked on the campaign of state Del. John J. Welch, a Virginia Beach Republican, before leaving the party in 2002 to help organize the Virginia Beach branch of the Green Party.
He got involved with Nader when the consumer advocate announced that he would again seek the presidency in 2004.
Mark McKinney, chairman of the Virginia Beach Republican Party, said that if the allegations against Polk are proven true, “I am certainly glad Polk is no longer affiliated with the Republican Party.”
Reach Jon Frank at 222-5122 or jon.frank@pilotonline.com
Forget Naderites, the real crimes are Democrat.
unless they're democrats, then there's fraud all over the place but that's ok.
What surprises me is that he didn't get on the rolls of all 50 states. Couldn't Republicans have signed the petition?
The guy is the state coordinator and he only donates $239 to his man.
What an odd number to donate...it's like he was digging through the couch to find spare change.
It's Soros' fault.
Oh you bet. I like how they peg the guy as a former Republican activist. That was convenient. It seems as though Polk is all over the political spectrum, Republican activist, to Green Party to Naderite.
BWAHAHAHA!
You KNOW that someone isn't interested in his candidate when he digs through the couch for change to contribute...hmmm...does the guy even LIKE Nader??? Or is he some kind of plant???
andie74, an ever-vigilant member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.