Posted on 12/02/2005 8:45:17 PM PST by SmithL
Charleston, W.Va. -- Thomas Esposito's campaign for the Legislature seemed to be following the usual pattern. The longtime Democratic mayor issued press releases, raised money and bought newspaper ads. Signs bearing his name popped up in yards around rural Logan County.
But less than a month before the May 2004 primary election, Esposito dropped out, saying he had to withdraw because of his ailing mother-in-law.
The real reason surfaced only later: The FBI had planted Esposito among the field of candidates to help find evidence of vote-buying in southern West Virginia.
Federal prosecutors say the gambit worked.
They allege Esposito gave $2,000 in government-supplied money to a resident who had offered to bribe voters on his behalf.
They also credit the undercover sting operation for last year's guilty pleas by the sheriff of Logan County and the police chief in the coal-mining city of Logan, who both admitted to election violations.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Yup. AND he ran as a Democrat. Says a lot. Wonder how many Repubbies a scam like that would come up with.
Standard practice for local elections around here. Makes me sick how corrupt the WV Democrats are, I'm sure it's not much different in most states tho.
Doesn't take much to prompt this guy to make a bribe.
'Rats buying votes - unbelievable...{/naivete}.....
They used a Dim for this sting...figures, and it's good to see that the FBI isn't too PC to profile the corrupt pols.
No wonder the WV politicians hate Hiram Lewis, they know he can't be bought.
Would you believe it if a Republican conservative showed up and offered to pay you to buy votes for him?
Personally, I'd think it was a sting operation.
They approporiately ran him as a Democrat to uncover voter fraud.
Surely, you sarc!
I hate to say it...I really do...but what if it were Duke Cunningham? Actually I would still think it was a sting.
And don't call me Shirley!
Ahahaha!
HAHAHA!
"Ah'm the high sheriff 'round here, boy. Ah'll get yo ass elected if'n the price is right, knowwhutahmean?"
Sarcasm or not, I agree. This had a high likelyhood of affecting the election one way or another - no I'm not talking about the vote buying, but the presence of a seemingly real candidate on the ballot, raising money, campaigning...
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