Posted on 05/19/2006 10:26:04 AM PDT by SmithL
MEMPHIS — The state prosecutor at Memphis is deciding if indictments will be sought in the voting scandal surrounding Ophelia Ford's election to the Tennessee Senate.
Prosecutor Bill Gibbons is reviewing a report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on the District 29 election in which two ballots were cast in the names of dead people.
"There's a lot of material to review," Gibbons said Thursday. "If we feel indictments are appropriate we would submit that for consideration to the grand jury."
Gibbons declined to say when he expects to make a decision.
Ford is not accused of wrongdoing but has been removed from office by her former Senate colleagues because of allegations of voting irregularities, including claims of ballots cast by felons and people who didn't live in the district.
Ford and several voters of the district have filed a federal court suit trying to get her reinstated to the Senate. A hearing on the suit has yet to be scheduled.
The Shelby County Election Commission declared Ford the winner of the election last year. Ford, a Democrat, drew 13 more votes than her Republican opponent, Terry Roland.
The election was to fill the unexpired term of Ford's brother, former Sen. John Ford, who resigned from office last year after he was indicted on federal corruption charges.
Interesting, but Memphis Fords NEVER go to jail.
I see the votes of dead people.
Sounds good unless they intend to indict only dead people.
If this goes forward it won't help Whitey Ford's camapign for Senate any.
Even a cat only has nine lives. We can only hope!!!!!!
Ah yes, I finally do see the word "Democrat"...buried almost at the end.
Let's make that Ophelia Ford, DEMOCRAT.
That's better.
The Shelby County Election Commission declared Ford the winner of the election last year. Ford, a Democrat, drew 13 more votes than her Republican opponent, Terry Roland.
One question, though... Even if it can be shown that dead people voted, how can it be shown that they voted for the Democrat? Isn't the ballot secret?
Dems never get prosecuted. Don't you know that only Pubbies can go to jail?
Hmph! The very idea of prosecuting Dems. They only can go to jail for stealing classified material. Oh, thats right. Forget it.
The dead people all resided at the Ford Funeral Home.
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