Secretary of State Todd Rokita apparently didn't appreciate attorneys for the Indiana Democratic Party asking him to recuse himself from the Recount Commission in their election challenge to Secretary of State candidate Charlie White because his office already investigated allegations White committed voter fraud by claiming as his primary residence the home of his ex-wife so he could keep his seat on the Fishers Town Council. Rokita refused to release the report his office prepared and turned over to the special prosecutors looking into whether White broke any laws. He insists he could be impartial in considering the Democrat's petition for an election contest, but he made clear at a hearing scheduled last Sunday held during a Colts game he is inclined to dismiss the petition--as soon as White's attorney had the opportunity to clean up a defect in his motion to dismiss the Democrat's complaint.
Rokita scheduled the next hearing of the Recount Commission for this Sunday at noon in Mt. Vernon. There are only two items on the agenda. One is the motion to dismiss the challenge to White's election; the other is an election recount matter in a state house race that could take hours, if not days, to determine. During last Sunday's hearing, Rokita had agreed to hear the Republican motion to dismiss the Democrat's election challenge to White as the first item on its agenda at the next hearing. When the agenda was mailed out today, however, it scheduled the Republican motion to dismiss the White election contest second on the agenda--at Rokita's direction. The attorney for White, David Brooks, is the attorney of record for the Republican candidate in both cases. Karen Celestino-Horseman, who is representing the Democratic Party in the White challenge will have to drive 3 1/2 hours to Mt. Vernon and wait for hours to see if the Commission considers her agenda item. Rokita plans to fly himself and the Republican member of the Commission, Gordon Durnil, in his private plane to the hearing in Mt. Vernon. I guess you don't want to get on Todd's bad side.
6 comments:
Mt. Vernon? Are you kidding me? That is the most remote part of the state. 3 1/2 hours is an underestimate...that's how long it takes to get to E-ville. Mt Vernon is another 30 - 40 minutes.
Not to mention how bad the weather forecast is for tomorrow, Paul.
Isn't all official State business to be conducted at the seat of government?
"He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures."
I think we all know the source of those words and what we must do when we are confronted by such an insufferable tyrant.
BTW, At 8:40 p.m. Sunday night. I was told the Commission has still not taken up the White election contest matter.
Todd is a very vindictive person. I've fortunately only had to deal with him on a personal/business level one time. Eventually, his ethics or lack thereof will catch up with him.
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