Kentucky GOP Official Indicted in Probe
Thursday October 20, 2005 8:01 PM
By JOE BIESK
Associated Press Writer
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A grand jury investigating alleged political influence in state hiring and firing indicted the Kentucky Republican Party's treasurer and another GOP official Thursday.
The defendants are the first people outside state government to be charged in the monthslong probe.
Dave Disponett, the GOP treasurer, and J. Marshall Hughes, a district chairman, were charged with conspiracy and political discrimination for allegedly helping to make personnel decisions based on applicants' politics.
The two are close supporters of Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, and their names appeared frequently in e-mail exchanges about job candidates.
Disponett, a builder, had an office in the Capitol, as well as a state-provided secretary and a prime parking place, into the second year of Fletcher's administration. Fletcher has said Disponett consulted on the hiring of political appointees.
The governor has denied any intentional wrongdoing and suggested that the investigation by Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo is politically motivated.
Disponett will plead not guilty, said his attorney, Larry Roberts. Hughes, a lawyer whose firm specializes in injury lawsuits, did not immediately return a call.
The grand jury is investigating possible political interference in hiring for jobs that are supposed to be merit-based. It previously indicted 11 current or former members of Fletcher's administration.
After the first nine were indicted, Fletcher issued blanket pardons intended to cover all those charged in the past or future. But whether the governor can pardon someone who has not yet been charged is a matter of dispute.
Calls to the governor's office were not immediately returned
Link Here
By JOE BIESK
Associated Press Writer
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A grand jury investigating alleged political influence in state hiring and firing indicted the Kentucky Republican Party's treasurer and another GOP official Thursday.
The defendants are the first people outside state government to be charged in the monthslong probe.
Dave Disponett, the GOP treasurer, and J. Marshall Hughes, a district chairman, were charged with conspiracy and political discrimination for allegedly helping to make personnel decisions based on applicants' politics.
The two are close supporters of Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, and their names appeared frequently in e-mail exchanges about job candidates.
Disponett, a builder, had an office in the Capitol, as well as a state-provided secretary and a prime parking place, into the second year of Fletcher's administration. Fletcher has said Disponett consulted on the hiring of political appointees.
The governor has denied any intentional wrongdoing and suggested that the investigation by Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo is politically motivated.
Disponett will plead not guilty, said his attorney, Larry Roberts. Hughes, a lawyer whose firm specializes in injury lawsuits, did not immediately return a call.
The grand jury is investigating possible political interference in hiring for jobs that are supposed to be merit-based. It previously indicted 11 current or former members of Fletcher's administration.
After the first nine were indicted, Fletcher issued blanket pardons intended to cover all those charged in the past or future. But whether the governor can pardon someone who has not yet been charged is a matter of dispute.
Calls to the governor's office were not immediately returned
Link Here
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