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Democrat Operative Reverses Plea; Guilty of Stealing Iowa Secretary of State’s Identity
The Iowa Republican ^ | March 9 2012 | Kevin Hall

Posted on 03/10/2012 1:57:32 AM PST by iowamark

Democrat operative Zach Edwards changed his initial not guilty plea to guilty and received a light sentence for stealing Secretary of State Matt Schultz’s identity. The plea was officially filed by Iowa Courts on Thursday. He pled guilty to identity theft, a simple misdemeanor.

Edwards received a deferred sentence of one year probation, 20 hours of community service within 120 days and a $65 fine. If he completes probation successfully, the simple misdemeanor charge is dismissed without a conviction being entered on his record. Edwards was originally charged with an aggravated misdemeanor and faced a maximum of two years in prison and a $6,250 fine. He was represented by prominent Republican attorney Matt Whitaker.

Zach Edwards was the Iowa Director of New Media for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. At the time of his arrest, he served in a similar capacity for Link Strategies, a Democrat consultant group closely aligned with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and several prominent Democrats around the country.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Edwards tried to use the identities of Secretary of State Matt Schultz, and/or his brother Thomas, with the intent to falsely implicate Secretary Schultz in illegal or unethical behavior. The Secretary of State’s office discovered the crime and reported it to authorities. Edwards was fired from his position at Link Strategies following the arrest.

Zach Edwards’ crime took place in the midst of a coordinated effort by the Iowa Democratic Party to tear down the Republican Secretary of State. On June 24, the same day he tried to steal Schultz’ identity, a blog connected to Iowa Democrats launched a three-part series of articles critical of Matt Schultz. That same month, the Iowa Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Schultz. The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board dismissed the complaint on July 19.

UPDATE: The story has been revised to note that Edwards was originally charged with an aggravated misdemeanor, but the charges were revised to a simple misdemeanor.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: identitytheft; iowasos; jefflink; linkstrategies; zacharyedwards; zachedwards

Zach Edwards was the Iowa Director of New Media for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign
1 posted on 03/10/2012 1:57:36 AM PST by iowamark
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To: iowamark

Evil is all around us, seeking to subvert all that we stand for.


2 posted on 03/10/2012 2:04:30 AM PST by SgtHooper (The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.)
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To: SgtHooper

Yeah, and never getting punished for it...as long as it’s Democrat evil, of course.


3 posted on 03/10/2012 2:05:42 AM PST by livius
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To: iowamark
He pled guilty to identity theft, a simple misdemeanor.

This is wrong. Identity Theft should be a felony.

You can do 25 to life or spend ten minutes in the same room with the person whos life you screwed up. They get a baseball bat.

4 posted on 03/10/2012 2:37:36 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Would you sing if someone sucked YOU up the vacuum cleaner hose?)
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To: iowamark
So he basically gets an attaboy from the legal system. What's the back story or do I need to ask?
5 posted on 03/10/2012 2:42:56 AM PST by Truth29
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

The level of the charge caught my eye as well. What is this,a game? He meant well but went about it the wrong way? There should be a real and substantial penalty for this but in a monetary and time sense.


6 posted on 03/10/2012 2:44:33 AM PST by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

This is a political thing that amazes me. No one really wants to pass a law that make ID theft a serious crime with a decade in prison. The media will carry one good story every month on this....but no will make it a top ten priority to change the laws.


7 posted on 03/10/2012 2:46:45 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: wiggen

but should read as both.
typoing in the dark.


8 posted on 03/10/2012 2:51:37 AM PST by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: iowamark; SgtHooper; All
Thanks very much for posting the story and Zach Edward's pic. BOLO. Any other background research on this guy...his family...his friends...who were his political handlers?

Evil is all around us, seeking to subvert all that we stand for.

BUMP-TO-THE-TRUTH!

Here's one example. Democrat/socialist/totalitarian CRIME SYNDICATE ALERT!

"Everything about socialism is sham and affectation." - 23.11 Ch23 Evil; Economic Harmonies; Frederic Bastiat 1801-1850

Many criminals do not stop unless they are incarcerated or eliminated.

9 posted on 03/10/2012 3:04:21 AM PST by PGalt
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To: iowamark
one year probation, 20 hours of community service within 120 days and a $65 fine

People get worse than that for not cleaning up when their dog poops on the sidewalk.

10 posted on 03/10/2012 3:29:30 AM PST by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
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To: Right Wing Assault

Get more than that for a speeding ticket.


11 posted on 03/10/2012 3:49:33 AM PST by Venturer
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To: Venturer

Another example of what’s wrong with our legal system. Letting this guy plea down to such a trivial sentence is an insult to the entire population.


12 posted on 03/10/2012 3:57:09 AM PST by CarmichaelPatriot
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To: iowamark

Bump


13 posted on 03/10/2012 4:11:07 AM PST by lowbridge (Rep. Dingell: "Its taken a long time.....to control the people.")
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To: Right Wing Assault
College students get more punishment than that after getting caught drinking beer in their own dorm rooms! I punished my own worse after catching him being disrespectful to his mother when he was in high school.
14 posted on 03/10/2012 4:17:08 AM PST by fini
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
He pled guilty to identity theft, a simple misdemeanor. This is wrong. Identity Theft should be a felony. You can do 25 to life or spend ten minutes in the same room with the person whos life you screwed up. They get a baseball bat.

Not in the Dim world - they will criminalize saying you are someone else while chatting on line, but actual crimes are nothing to worry about.

15 posted on 03/10/2012 4:34:20 AM PST by trebb ("If a man will not work, he should not eat" From 2 Thes 3)
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To: iowamark

JUSTUS system ALERT!


16 posted on 03/10/2012 4:43:36 AM PST by PGalt
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To: iowamark
Identity theft is something Democrat operatives have been using for a while. Chuck Shumer’s staff stole Micheal Steel's identity. Sarah Palin’s identity was stolen. There is never any concern by the MSM or legal consequences.
17 posted on 03/10/2012 4:51:22 AM PST by detective
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To: detective

So what? Leave him alone. Move along. There is nothing to see here. Get to work and pay your taxes. /s/


18 posted on 03/10/2012 5:29:19 AM PST by hal ogen (1st Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: iowamark
feh... just another resume enhancement
19 posted on 03/10/2012 6:28:12 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

...to steal an election. He’s a traitor!


20 posted on 03/10/2012 2:44:36 PM PST by donna (Republicans won't change their ways until conservatives draw the line.)
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