KY Gov. Patton (Dem) pardons four friends charged with breaking election laws

Lexington Herald-Liberal ^ | 18 June 2003 | Joe Biesk

[fightin kentuckian]

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gov. Paul Patton on Wednesday pardoned his chief of staff and three others charged with breaking election laws in Patton's 1995 campaign.

The pardons came two days after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their appeal of a state Supreme Court ruling that reinstated their November 1998 indictments.

Attorney General Ben Chandler has alleged they colluded to help Patton's Democratic campaign get around spending limits during his 1995 campaign.

The group includes two of Patton's chief of staff, Andrew "Skipper" Martin; labor liaison Danny Ross; and two longtime Teamsters - Lon Fields, who was president of Local 89 in Louisville, and Robert Winstead, the local's former secretary-treasurer.

"These men have been punished enough," said Patton, a Democrat. "I have great confidence in the judicial system of Kentucky, but it's not perfect."

Any political consequences for the governor may be limited since he is barred from serving a third term and already dropped a plan to run for Senate after admitting an extramarital affair.

The defendants have maintained the campaign-finance laws they were charged with breaking attempted to restrict free speech and were unconstitutionally vague. The state Supreme Court agreed in part, especially about parts of the law prohibiting communications between candidates and groups that might want to spend money on their behalf.

But in a January ruling the court said the indictments were not dependent on those "unconstitutional aspects" of the statutes.

In announcing the pardons in a news conference at the Capitol, Patton cited precedent, including President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon in 1974 and President George Bush's pardon of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1992.

He also suggested that Chandler, the Democratic nominee for governor this year, should have left the matter to the next attorney general.

"This has been a political crusade on his part to try to build his political career from day one," Patton said. "These four people have suffered enough and I have to bring it to an end."

Chandler, who faces Republican U.S. Rep. Ernie Fletcher in the November election, had defended his prosecution of the case after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal.

"This case has brought no pleasure for anyone, but I have continued to steadfastly perform the duties assigned to the attorney general," Chandler said in a statement Monday. "Those duties include making sure every election is fair and honorable."

Fields, however, also claimed Wednesday that the prosecution of the case was political.

"It was nothing but politics and was absolutely wrong," Fields said after Patton announced the pardons. "It was just Ben Chandler wanting to be governor."

[fightin kentuckian]

Patton garners an award for sheer audacity. This guy has no shame. Clintoon would be proud.

[freebilly]

"These four people have suffered enough and I have to bring it to an end."

Does this mean he will pardon everyone who has "suffered" because they were arrested for criminal offenses?

[lowbridge]

bump

[thegreatbeast]

Did they serve any time? Pay a fine? Anything?
C'mon by this time we all know that this is SOP for anybody with no near-term election on the horizon!

[Dan from Michigan]

That's like Klintler pardoning Dan Lasater.

[Lion Den Dan]

I hope this crroked SOB does not try for President ala Klintoon.

[skinkinthegrass]

Patton garners an award for sheer audacity. This guy has no shame. Clintoon would be proud.

Paul Patton = Bubba Clinton; 0=0...Only (IX42) Bubba lied before a FEDERAL JUDGE AND GRAND JURY AND GOT CAUGHT (it was never about sex, as the ClintoncRATs claim, it was about the rule of law...Something the liberals & their press shills seeks to hide). Bubba was Impeached and the ClintoncRATs in the Congress let him off, thereby setting-up an Two-level (tried (SP?)) Justice system...one level for the common people, another one, for the Elite (read ClintoncRATs)...the true lagacy of the ClintoncRATs...but Liberals (& their media shills) will NEVER EVER admit their numerous mistakes...because to do so, even once, would show they do make mistakes and lead to questions of their ability to lead... :|

[pepperhead]

Patton's been caught in his own sex scandal here in Kentucky. He is through here. I don't think he would have a chance in hell nation wide. He isn't really telegenic. It is strange that in Kentucky, Democrats control the state offices. But Republicans send 5 of the 6 US congress members and both US Senators.

[skinkinthegrass]

Yeah,...The court rulings really surprized us. The ClintoncRAT party ran for the tall grass, they really got caught with the cookie jars/while whimpering "It not my Fault, the mean gop made me do this, while they munch on the cookies". KY is pretty much like France, Mexico, AR, CA, MD & MA...EVERYTHING WAS FOR SALE, EVEN TRUTH...Maybe not this time... BTW, are you in KY. :/

[pepperhead]

Alot of local and state politician are corrupt. Payoffs are a way of life to them. Statewide there may be some differences in the parties. But when you get down to county and city politics there is not a bit of difference between the two. Kentucky is no different than Tennessee, Arkansas or any other state in the US. And yes I live in Kentucky.

[malia]

"It is strange that in Kentucky, Democrats control the state offices. But Republicans send 5 of the 6 US congress members and both US Senators."

Maybe it is time to take over the state offices. How about starting with Ellen Williams? Very impressive person!!!

[ibheath]

Patton knows he doesn't stand snowballs's chance in Hades of ever getting elected to any office in KY ever again. He is just covering his behind, since "Skipper" was his chief of staff, and knows where the "luv gov's" bodies are buried. This is a quid pro quo. "I'll pardon you, you never reveal any of the things that can get me convicted."

[Bullish]

Democrats sure suck!

[Kentucky]

Ellen Williams ran for Magistrate in Anderson County, Ky. several years ago and lost. Small town Kentucky politics are run by DemocRATS. We had two great Republicans running
for Magistrate here; Ellen and Dr. Keith Jacoby, our local vet. They lost to local good old boys with little or no education past the high school level. Ellen worked in the Bush WHite House as an intern. SHe and Mitch are good friends. After loosing the election Mitch asked her to take over the state Rep. Party.

[pepperhead]

Thanks, I didn't know what Ellen Williams ran for in Kentucky. Can't say how much she really had to do with what the Republicans did in the State of Kentucky. Republicans did take control of the Senate under her tenure. But I am not impressed with that. Control of both houses or a Republican Governor would have impressive. I not sure how much credit she should get for the US house and Senate elections. If you want to give credit where it is due, look no further than the assault weapon ban and all the gun grabbing Democrats in charge of their party. That is why they can't win in non urban areas. Also Rush and The Contract With America might have helped some too.

[malia]

After loosing the election Mitch asked her to take over the state Rep. Party.

That must have been when I saw her, during the George W's. campaign, on C-Span one morning. Very impressive!!! and if she wants, should have a career ahead for her. One of the names I've tucked away.

[RonPaulLives]

Always remember the date Jan. 4, 2002:
That was when U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senior Republican Senator from Louisville (and now U.S. Senate Majority Whip), files documents in support of Andrew "Skipper" Martin, labor liaison Danny Ross and legislative liaison Leonard Gray. He argues that the law violates free speech. And McConnell has had no comment on Patton's pardons.

[ladyinred]

Good Gawd!!!!!
Only in 2003 America would a rat have the unmitigated gall to do this, and get away with it of course!

[ibheath]

There is a huge difference between filing papers in support/opposition to a court case, and circumventing the legal system in an abuse of power.
We know Sen Mconnell objects to most campaign finance laws.

[LanPB01]

Local politics in Kentucky (and I speak from having grown up in Patton's hometown) are a joke. Buying votes is so common, people often react with shock if you question the procedure.