Reply #43: AP - Ohio Official, Ken Blackwell, Refuses Interview Over Vote [View All]

[dzika]

Tuesday December 28, 2004 12:16 AM

Ohio Official Refuses Interview Over Vote

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
AP Statehouse Correspondent


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The secretary of state, who declared President Bush the official winner in Ohio, is seeking a court order to keep himself from being interviewed as part of a court challenge of the Nov. 2 vote.

Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell claims his deposition is not required, and accused 37 voters challenging the election of ``frivolous conduct.''

The court challenge cites irregularities including long lines, a shortage of voting machines in minority precincts and problems with computer equipment.

-snip-
Attorney General Jim Petro, representing Blackwell, said the voters ``are not trying to actually contest the presidential election but are merely using this litigation to cast public doubt on the voting system of the State of Ohio without a shred of evidence.''

On Dec. 21, officials learned lawyers for the voters planned to issue subpoenas to several high-ranking officials, including Blackwell, Bush and the president's political adviser, Karl Rove, according to Petro.


Link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4696889,00.html