Election fraud in Kentucky

Ky. officials accused of election-rigging scheme
By JOE BIESK
AP
March 19, 2009

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A judge, school superintendent and county clerk in southeastern Kentucky have been indicted on charges they extorted money from political candidates so they could bribe voters in a scheme to rig several elections, authorities said Thursday.

The U.S. Attorney's office said charges include racketeering, bribery, extortion and voter fraud against Clay County Circuit Court Judge Russell Cletus Maricle, school superintendent Douglas C. Adams, Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson and others.

The investigation began after voting irregularities were reported during the 2006 elections. A statement from the federal prosecutor's office claims the officials tried to rig federal, state and local elections in 2002, 2004 and 2006 in Clay County, about 170 miles southeast of Louisville.

Prosecutors claim a group led by Maricle and Adams, who were essentially "political bosses," recruited a slate of candidates to run for certain offices and then tried to rig elections in their favor. They also tried to recruit members of the local elections board so they might avoid an investigation.

It was unclear how much money was involved in the alleged scheme, and exactly how long it may have been going on.

According to the indictment, Democratic election commissioner Charles Wayne Jones and election officer William E. Stivers helped extort money from candidates. In some cases, candidates were apparently asked to pool money so votes could be bought.

Thompson, the county clerk, allegedly provided money for election officers to buy votes. Thompson also told election officers how to change votes at the machines, according to the indictment...