KY Gov's Former Chief of Staff Is Latest Charged in Political Hiring Probe

[RSchewe]

Ky. Governor's Ex-Chief of Staff Charged

By MARK R. CHELLGREN
Associated Press Writer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- A special grand jury examining alleged political hiring by Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration on Friday indicted his former chief of staff and a representative of his local outreach office.

Daniel Groves, who resigned as chief of staff in the past month, and Vince Fields were each charged with three counts of violating state personnel laws to fill state jobs with Republicans.

The grand jury previously charged nine current and former members of Fletcher's administration, including high-ranking officials and the chairman of the state Republican Party.

Fletcher in August issued a decree pardoning the nine, as well as anyone else the grand jury might accuse except himself. He later fired several employees, including Fields and four of those indicted previously.

"These are good people and they don't deserve this," Fletcher said in a statement issued after Friday's indictments.

Prosecutor Scott Crawford-Sutherland said he does not believe Fletcher's earlier decree covers the latest charges.

"You can pardon an individual, but you can't pardon a broad subject matter," he said.

Groves' attorney Paul Harnice called the indictments "ridiculous" and part of a "smear campaign" by prosecutors.

Fields' attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The new indictments come a day after Fletcher's office announced that Commerce Secretary Jim Host is stepping down. Host, like the governor, declined to testify before the grand jury.

(emphasis added)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KENTUCKY_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-09-30-21-46-54

[ShockediSay]

1. We need a bunch of pictures like the rogues gallery Nixon's team produced

With for example a picture of the attorney general John Mitchell, a little bio underneath, Republican Attorney General, and a little banner across each picture as their criminal cases proceed, like 'INDICTED,' then 'CONVICTED' and the like.

We could have that top procurement guy with the bio reading Bush White House Chief Procurement officer, his mug shot, 'ARRESTED,'
Tom Dela's mug shot, with his bio indicated he was found in violation of x no of ethical violations, and across his mug shot 'INDICTED,'John Rowlands, keynote speaker of the Republican convention of xxxx and former Governor of Connecticut, 'INDICTED' on charges of corruption and 'CONVICTED.'

Jack Abramoff, Republican fundraiser and lobbyist etc etc etc

[Toots]

2. Republicans live by a "Culture of Corruption"

I just hope justice prevails.