Election Staff Convicted in Recount Rig

AP via SFGate ^ | 1/24/7 | M.R. KROPKO

[SmithL]

CLEVELAND -- Two election workers were convicted Wednesday of rigging a recount of the 2004 presidential election to avoid a more thorough review in Ohio's most populous county.

Jacqueline Maiden, elections coordinator of the Cuyahoga County Elections Board, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer each were convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee. They also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty.

Prosecutors accused Maiden and Dreamer of secretly reviewing preselected ballots before a public recount on Dec. 16, 2004. They worked behind closed doors for three days to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand, prosecutors said.

[NonValueAdded]

They were convicted, therefore Republican. If they were trying to prevent a recount and Kerry desperately wanted one, that would be my assumption.

[skinkinthegrass]

They did find a few extra votes for Kerry, but not enough.

*smirk..shaking head*

Hmmmm...and since there's NO PARTY AFFILIATION, I bet they're DemocRATS.

*Looking* ....YUP! :/

[esarlls3]

Three days of hand-picking ballots to recount is laziness? On what planet, may I ask?

http://www.vindy.com/content/national_world/298848036727416.php

"The evidence will show that this recount was rigged, maybe not for political reasons, but rigged nonetheless," Prosecutor Kevin Baxter said. "They did this so they could spend a day rather than weeks or months" on the recount, he said.

Prosecutors do not allege vote fraud or that the mishandling of the recount affected the outcome of the presidential election.

[patton]

Ahhhhh. Sorry, now I get it.

[Owen]

>>
"The evidence will show that this recount was rigged, maybe not for political reasons, but rigged nonetheless," Prosecutor Kevin Baxter said. "They did this so they could spend a day rather than weeks or months" on the recount, he said.

Prosecutors do not allege vote fraud or that the mishandling of the recount affected the outcome of the presidential election.
>>

Completely credible. They didn't want to work that hard on something that they knew was not going to matter.

[edsheppa]

I don't get it. There was evidently a recount so what is this "more thorough review" and did they succeed in preventing it? What was the nature of the pre-selection?

[lowbridge]

bump

[restornu]

Rosie Grier, left, is hugged by Jacqueline Maiden after the verdicts were read, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, in Cleveland. Maiden was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee. Maiden was also convicted of one misdemeanor count of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Grier was acquitted of all seven counts of various election misconduct or interference charges. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

[lowbridge]

Jacqueline Maiden, center, stands with Rosie Grier, left

I always wondered whatever happened to that football player. ;-)

[PAR35]

In Cuyahoga County, a Democratic stronghold where about 600,000 ballots were cast,

What do they have there? About 400,000 registered voters?

[lowbridge]

Laws do not apply to Democrats.

Next.

[restornu]

Maiden and Dreamer, who still work for the elections board, face a possible sentence of six to 18 months for the felony conviction. Sentencing is on Feb. 26.

[restornu]

It most likely how Nancy Pelosi got in too!

[weegee]

Regardless of their party affiliation, I believe the courts should use the death penalty in cases of conspiracy to commit vote fraud. It goes against everything this nation was founded upon and may be a deterrent. Certainly would keep people from being repeat offenders.

[Bernard Marx]

Whenever party affiliation is not mentioned in a political-type story, especially one that involves a scandal, you will 99% of the time be correct if you assume the person in question is a Democrat.

I agree with everything except your percentage - make it 100% and you'll be right on.

[ModelBreaker]

Just a guess here. The first few paragraphs of the article did not mention political party. So I'm guessing they were D's.

[t2buckeye]

Cuyahoga County?? YOu BET they are Democrats

[PhiKapMom]

I am originally from Ohio (Miami County) and I can remember my Dad and Mom when I was growing up being furious at Cuyahoga County changing the outcome of elections because they were so corrupt. Looks like some things never change.

[Ole Okie]

Laws do not apply to Democrats.

True. Just ask Sandy Burglar.

[PhiKapMom]

Less then impressed with the site. Hard to find someone without all the information.