[UPDATED] Clay County, KY Election Officials Found Guilty of Election Fraud, Vote Buying

All eight defendants in Clay County, Kentucky’s election fraud trial have been found guilty today by a federal jury. Six of those eight were high-ranking election officials, including the county clerk, a circuit judge and the school superintendent. The conspirators were charged with having manipulated federal elections in 2002, 2004 and 2006 by buying and selling votes and manipulating electronic voting machines.

According to AP, each of the now-convicted felons could face up to 20 years in prison for what prosecutors had described as a conspiracy to manipulate elections for decades in the rural, heavily Republican county.

In additional to federal racketeering, several of the defendants were also convicted of charges that included mail fraud, extortion and laundering money used to buy votes.

The BRAD BLOG has been following this story since the conspirators were originally arrested in March of last year, and as details of the election officials’ manipulation of ES&S iVotronic touch-screen voting machines has emerged…

Supporters of unverifiable electronic voting, such as election officials and voting machines companies, had long argued that, though manipulation of such systems was possible, nobody had actually ever done so. While that dubious argument was difficult to independently verify one way or another — since the private vendors make public oversight of such systems virtually impossible by blocking citizen inspection and oversight of such systems due to claims of “trade secrecy” — the denialists arguments are no longer valid.

Furthermore, the verdict underscores what many critics of e-voting have long argued: the greatest security threat to such systems come from election insiders, not from the voting public and dubious claims of “voter fraud”.

We recently detailed the testimony of one of the witnesses in the case who described how she was trained by the county’s chief election official, Clerk Freddy Thompson (one of those convicted today), to change votes cast by voters on the county’s ES&S touch-screen voting systems after they’d left the voting booth. The witness, Wanda White also detailed how she was instructed to change her own voter registration from Republican to Democratic so that she could serve as a Democratic precinct official.

The ES&S iVotronic touch-screen systems secretly manipulated by the cabal of election officials in Kentucky to change voter’s votes, are used in a total of 18 states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

And, just for good measure, we’ll take this opportunity to remind readers, yet again, that the community organization ACORN — who has long been used as a red-herring by the Republican Party to suggest the existence of massive Democratic “voter fraud” — has never been charged with, or found guilty of aiding in the illegal casting of a single vote. Ever. Anywhere. No actual evidence has ever been presented in support of such a charge either.

Nonetheless, a recent survey by the the non-partisan polling outfit, Research 2000 found that one in five (21%) self-identified Republicans believe that ACORN stole the 2008 election for Barack Obama. Another 55% are “not sure” if they did or not.

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UPDATE 3/26/10: Lexington Herald-Leader’s Bill Estep, the local reporter who has owned this story for the past year, offering top-notch coverage every step of the way, offers some excellent details on the convictions today along with background on the entire sprawling conspiracy, including the $3.2 million the conspirators have been found liable for “based on the salaries and contracts they were able to get as a result of illegal acts.”

Yes, it was a huge money-making proposition for the folks involved, and this federal prosecution only covered the elections from 2002 to 2006. At one point during the trial, defendant R. Cletus Maricle, formerly the Circuit Court Judge, admitted to having bought votes in 1983 (but claimed he hadn’t done so since).

Estep also notes there could be more related indictments in the future. “The verdict raised the possibility that more people could be charged with vote fraud in the county,” he writes. “Prosecutors and witnesses at the trial identified a number of others, including former and current public officials, who allegedly took part in buying votes.”

We’ll recommend Estep’s coverage in full, but here are a few items of note worth flagging here from his report:

A bit about how the vote-machine rigging worked (since the AP report we linked to above hadn’t offered details)…

In 2006, with the FBI a persistent presence in town, Maricle and others tried a new vote-fraud tactic that involved fewer people than buying votes — stealing votes, the indictment said.

The county had new voting machines that year that required people to push two buttons after making their choices — one to review choices and the second to record them.

That created opportunity for a scam in which corrupt precinct officers duped people into thinking they had voted after pressing the first button, then switched the votes, according to trial testimony.

Thompson, Jones and Stivers helped “school” her in how to do that when she worked as a precinct officer in May 2006, Wanda White testified.

On how widespread the election fraud had become in Clay County…

Testimony at the trial indicated that vote-buying has been chronic and widespread in the county, to the point many people saw nothing wrong with it.

After Eugene “Mutton” Lewis, a convicted drug dealer who said he’d bought votes for decades, described a candidate giving him $1,000 and asking for help, a defense attorney asked whether there weren’t ways to help a candidate besides buying votes.

“Not that I know of,” Lewis responded.

And finally, Estep’s report ends on a hopeful note for democracy in the county which has been racked by years-long federal investigations and multiple prosecutions of high-ranking officials for narcotics trafficking, witness intimidation and election rigging in what had become an entirely political machine-owned-and-run corner of the state…

Manchester Mayor Carmen Webb Lewis said there are a lot of good people in Clay County. Election corruption had caused many to become disillusioned with politics, and even to stop voting, but federal agents’ work to root out corruption is changing that, she said.

One sign is that there are people running for office this year who wouldn’t have before, she said.

“That is kind of uplifting. I think it’s wonderful,” she said of the investigation, “and so many people do.”

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45 Responses

  4. SWEET!!!

    I am mystified that Justice has poked its head somewhere in the nation! It has been so feeble. I thought it was totally dead.

    Congratulations to all election-integrity activists!

    P.S. Is Ancient spamming on your blog?

  5. Study after study, and court case after court case show election fraud committed by democracy-hating rightist extremists. They blame ACORN.

  6. Given the import and implications of this story, naturally, the NYT is all over it. ^

  8. We’ll see. If they get more than a year at Club Fed, I’ll be surprised. Just think, a year to work on their game between furloughs, with 4 star dining and a good night club. Pretty tough. I’ll give you 2 to 1 that they don’t lose their pension plan and it accrues thoughout their incarceration.

  9. I’m actually a little surprised that lot were smart enough to work the electronic voting machines. The Republicans had their “ACORN, but I doubt this will go over as big with the Democrats. Possibly the lower percentage of knee-jerk reactionaries on the left. Or maybe due to the fact that they don’t need to make up outlandish lies about the right; because the right has these guys!

  10. When local voting officials train insider co-workers how to steal votes, then election fraud takes on a new meaning. It becomes election conspiracy. This case cries out for public involvement into the election process at the grass roots level. Even paper ballots have no affect as to the accuracy of the vote totals when election fraud from the inside takes place prior to the votes being counted. Once the damage is done at the voting booth (as was the case here) then you can re-count forever and the totals will be the same.

  12. “Study after study, and court case after court case show election fraud committed by democracy-hating rightist extremists. They blame ACORN.”

    Oldest political trick in the book and it still works… Blame your opponent for what you yourself are guilty of. Takes the focus off yourself by loudly accusing the other of the same crime. Makes you look righteous etc. False Flag Terrorism works similarly. Let’s put a stop to it by calling them out on it repeatedly. Peace.

  14. Have always thought it would take a village to steal votes of the magnitude we have seen since 2000. Have had a hunch that it was A) racists B) organized crime C) combination.So states which were heavily influenced by these groups would be the most guilty.From someone who has lived in Ohio…losts of racism.

  15. I think David (commenter #10) touched upon this earlier in the comments about this being a larger conspiracy. And like Sam I have a hard time believing this group had the know how to pull the technical part off. I think Brad has touched on the technical players. A lot of this I think can be traced to work orders for consultants and cleared from Secretary of state levels. This must be investigated, interview techs, and guaranteed you’ll find that there were techs they’ve never seen before brought in.

  20. The reason this won’t create as much buzz as the ACORN “scandal” is that the media doesn’t want to rock the Republican apple cart. The narrative they’ve spent years creating is that Democrats cheat in elections and Republicans are honorable in all of their dealings. Actually having to acknowledge that the elections of Bush in 2000, the mid-terms in 2002, and the re-election of Bush in 2004 were all the result of vote manipulation. Heads should roll for this, literally. 20 years hard labor is insufficient.

  21. Yes3 @ 16 said:

    There is nothing about voting machines on that AP page….

    I’ve provided back links to our own coverage, as we’ve covered it in detail in the past. As well, I’ve just added an update to local reporter Bill Estep’s coverage in which he does discuss the voting machine aspect.

  23. Let’s just go to war with the reTHUGlicans and get it over with. They won’t stop with the lying, cheating, stealing, and murdering. They’ve got nothing left to lose either. So, let’s just move to the next phase with them…..OPEN WARFARE.

  24. Is anyone checking into Trey Grayson’s involvement in any of this? He will be counting his own votes in the Kentucky senatorial race after all.

  26. Adam @5 – I want to read some of those numerous studies and court cases about right wing extremist election fraud. Can you provide some links please?

  27. Daleyrocks, I doubt your sincerity. You’ve set yourself to one side and cherry pick data to support. I don’t think you’d let facts interfere with your dogma, but here goes just a couple of samples:

    Here’s a documentary you can watch:
    http://www.hackingdemocracy.com/

    Here’s a video featuring democracy-loving Republican Bruce Funk:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwHX7zDVkuc

    If you are being intellectually honest in your questions(I don’t think you are), just Google it. From what I see, you are someone who hates democracy, which is very un-American. You’re less of an American than I am (and I am a Canadian born in Mexico).

  29. @#26

    Attention: Daily Crocks

    Had right wing IT expert Mike Connell not met a very untimely fate,due to a deathly plane crash on the eve of his supoenaned testimony(re: Ohio election hijinks and “man in the middle” electronic voting scheme), you very well would have the smoking gun you desire.

  30. @#22

    Name ANY other legal,accountable transaction that does not require a paper receipt as verifiable proof of the particulars of the said transaction?

    You can’t even buy a stick of chewing gum without a paper receipt to verify the transaction to balance the day’s tally.

    Is NOT a vote worth more than a wad of chewing gum?

  31. TRO @30 – Because it’s such a serious matter, I assume you are in favor of voter ID requirements to ensure fair elections.

  32. Adam @27 – That’s all you’ve got? When you sound off as you did in #5 it actually made it seem like you had some hard evidence. Thanks for nothing.

  33. Hey, Daleyrocks, begin with the article right in front of your face, if you want hard evidence. Then Google it, if you sincerely want to know. It would obviously be a waste of time providing you with links. The weight someone of your hardline Communist disposition gives evidence, however compelling, is directly related to the subject’s politics (you remind me of hardline Communists I met in China, so I figure that is what you must be, and no doubt equally confused. You’re also a lot like religious police I met in Saudi Arabia. Dogmatists are so alike…)

  34. Rhymes With Right @ #28: There was nothing “bipartisan” about this fraud. The “Democrat” involved was actually a Rethuglican who changed her party so she could represent the “Democrats” in a supposedly bi-partisan way.

    As usual, it is the criminal Rethuglicans who are doing the criminal election theft. You have to go back 40 years to find Democrats having a hand in any of this fraud.

  35. Just a suggestion…unless duhrocks answers the question, Do you want the unedited ACORN tapes released?…don’t pay any attention to him.

  36. This should be nationwide #1 news story across the mass mainstream media: electronic voting machines proven manipulated in court of law. Because the ramifications are what we always said: electronic voting machines are being manipulated. This affects the entire country. It should be the #1 news story across the nation, but I’m sure it was covered only in Clay County newspapers. Someone “chose” not to put it on the national syndicated “news”.

  37. No one can say that electronic voting machines are secure, after it’s found in a COURT OF LAW that they are proven to be manipulated. Then ALL electronic voting machines across the nation can be manipulated. THAT is the ramification and implication of this court decision.

  38. No PatGinSD #4, just playing dot to dots with the grassroots now that ACORN is gone! I got an idea, why doesn’t the grassroots reach out to the closest ACORN employee in your area…reform they say…I say join forces. Now, what’s the new name?

  40. Brad…someone…the bold seems to have been left open. 🙁

    [Ed Note: “Someone”? That would be you, someone! Now fixed. 🙂 ]

  41. I think it is on topic, since the attacks against ACORN were about reducing the number of voters more likely to vote for progressive candidates.

  42. Brad: You have just manifested the truth of one of the most powerful statements in the I CHING = “Perseverance furthers”. And God knows you have persevered. Your persistence, supported by your intuition and commitment to tracking this fraud to its lair is paying off at a whole new level! This “connection” which you are helping to uncover and publicize really could change the course of history!!!! Thank you for your amazing work.
    Dorothy

  43. @#31- Daily Crock

    I present two forms of ID EVERY time I vote…my voter ID card AND my driver’s license.

    A paper receipt that reflects your vote is a fair exchange for providing proof of voter ID requirements.

    Perhaps Anne Coulter would have not been involved in voter fraud,herself, if such measures were evenly enforced.

    Here’s the Brad Blog article on the felonious fraudster:

    The BRAD BLOG : Ann Coulter ‘Lawyers Up’ to Face Felony Voter …Vote Fraudster Ann Coulter Jumps Into ‘Pimp’ Hoax Lying Game …. Appointed by Bush as U.S. attorney for the southern district of Florida in 2002, ….. “I just discovered and found out from a friend that Ann Coulter is a former drag …
    http://www.bradblog.com/?p=2903 – Cached – Similar

  44. Republicans who registered as Democrat’s…no kidding…? That would be a darn good explanation for Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, Bart Stupak, Rahm Emanuel, Baucus, Conrad, (etc.,) actions…..the GOP have moved so far to the right…their “leaders” have a racist southern “plantation owner” mindset, like Jim De Mint, Mitch McConnell, Eric Cantor, James Inofe, Coburn, Old Man McCain, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, the “crazy right” religious fanatics, the tea baggers, the racist militia men (now called the GOP “base”)…where else would a “moderate” Republican (who still hopes to collect his/her share of Corporate funding, playing for pay) hide-out…? In the Democratic Party, of course!

  45. Ya know TRO, one of the reasons I’d like to see the ban on gay marriage done away with is for the blackmail reasons , doncha?