[Gillmeister]

A federal indictment could be closing in on former Maryland lieutenant governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and members of her staff for allegedly authorizing the misuse of federal funds earmarked for the state's crime-control office.

News leaked in July during a hotly contested governors' race between Kennedy Townsend and the eventual winner, Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich, that a federal grand jury had begun pursuing an investigation into whether federal monies were diverted to pay administrative costs for the state's Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Kennedy Townsend responded that the probe was "political garbage" cooked up by a Republican prosecutor and state Republicans. After the election, it appeared that might be the case as the probe seemed to go nowhere.

But this changed dramatically when federal subpoenas were served in early January on the crime office, seeking all documents since 1998 relating to "administrative costs" concerning grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. The subpoenas also seek e-mails that were sent and received by 18 state workers as well as written correspondence from Kennedy Townsend's deputy chief of staff, Michael Sarbanes, and the crime-control agency's director, Stephen Amos.

Kennedy Townsend's inability to run an efficient crime-control office may have cost her the election. Her office had a horrendous record concerning drugs in prison [see "On Dope Row," Feb. 4, 2003] and had to shell out millions in a lawsuit that accused correction officers of beating juveniles in boot camps. Critics charge that the funds that allegedly were diverted may have helped prevent crime instead of lining the pockets of administrative staff. But the grand jury continues to investigate. It has yet to subpoena Kennedy Townsend to testify.

Timothy Maier is an investigative reporter for Insight.

[cavtrooper21]

Once again proving that Democrats + money + political office = CORRUPTION!
Frankly, I'm not one bit surprised. Plus there is no Democrat appointed USAG to cover and conceal for her.
Bummer.

[Bonaparte]

First Michael Skakel, now Kennedy Townsend? A two-bagger would be nice. Go Ashcroft Go!

[45Auto]

The answer to your question is that the RATS are arrogant little turds who think they are above the laws that everybody else has to abide by. That's why they are so adamant about the 'living Constitution'; because they want that venerable document to mean anything THEY say at any given time, whatever is convenient for the crime du jour. A pox on them all.

[sneakypete]

Nothing will come of this. The Bubba-2 so-called Justice Dept will step in and seal all the evidence,just like they did with the evidence of Bubba-1 and Bubbette!'s guilt. Just call it "Ruling Class professional courtesy".

[Rocky]

Not a Kennedy. Say it ain't so.

[lizma]

...as well as written correspondence from Kennedy Townsend's deputy chief of staff, Michael Sarbanes, and the crime-control agency's director, Stephen Amos

Sen. Paul Sarbanes son.

The apple doesn't fall from the tree.

[Happy2BMe]

What is it with Democrats in power?

Good post - tnx.

[nicmarlo]

ping!

[Jorge]

Kennedy Townsend's inability to run an efficient crime-control office may have cost her the election.

I thought it was her shrill and overly aggressive demeaner in the debates. She came off as a real witch.

[nutmeg]

Another day, another Kennedy scandal!

[Guillermo]

Laws are for Little People. She's a Kennedy for crying out loud, cut her some slack.

[jmaroneps37]

Another dog bites man story.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Your forgot:

WARNING TO THOSE SITTING CLOSE TO THEIR LARGE COMPUTER MONITOR:
If you click on the link of the article a big face will suddenly appear to kiss you and you will fall back in your chair and hurt yourself.