Eric Dreher
2005-02-16 23:08:35 UTC
Five Democratic campaign staffers who allegedly slashed the tires of
25 Republican get-out-the-vote vans on Election Day in Milwaukee will
stand trial on felony charges.
The defendants, who include the sons of a congresswoman and former
acting mayor, face a maximum three and a half years in prison and a
$10,000 fine if convicted of vandalism.
The vans were rented by the GOP to drive voters to the polls.
On Election Day, the five left Milwaukee just after 3 a.m. and
returned shortly thereafter, according to the pretrial testimony of
two Democratic presidential campaign workers, Levar Stoney and Opel
Simmons. Simmons said the five "seemed to be excited, excitable, kind
of gleeful, laughing and kind of joking," according to the Associated
Press.
Two of the defendants, Michael Pratt, son of former acting Milwaukee
Mayor Marvin Pratt, and Sowande Omokunde, son of Wisconsin Rep. Gwen
Moore, talked about the vandalism, according to Stoney. But Stoney
and Simmons were included in an alleged plan to plaster the Republican
office with Kerry Edwards signs and bumper stickers, according to
defense attorneys.
Meanwhile, a former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee staffer,
Roger Chiang, pleaded guilty yesterday to mail fraud in the theft of
$360,000 in donor checks. The committee is the main fund-raising arm
for Senate Democrats.
Most of the money was recovered before the November elections, but
about 10,000 still is missing, the AP reported.
Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.
------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.
25 Republican get-out-the-vote vans on Election Day in Milwaukee will
stand trial on felony charges.
The defendants, who include the sons of a congresswoman and former
acting mayor, face a maximum three and a half years in prison and a
$10,000 fine if convicted of vandalism.
The vans were rented by the GOP to drive voters to the polls.
On Election Day, the five left Milwaukee just after 3 a.m. and
returned shortly thereafter, according to the pretrial testimony of
two Democratic presidential campaign workers, Levar Stoney and Opel
Simmons. Simmons said the five "seemed to be excited, excitable, kind
of gleeful, laughing and kind of joking," according to the Associated
Press.
Two of the defendants, Michael Pratt, son of former acting Milwaukee
Mayor Marvin Pratt, and Sowande Omokunde, son of Wisconsin Rep. Gwen
Moore, talked about the vandalism, according to Stoney. But Stoney
and Simmons were included in an alleged plan to plaster the Republican
office with Kerry Edwards signs and bumper stickers, according to
defense attorneys.
Meanwhile, a former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee staffer,
Roger Chiang, pleaded guilty yesterday to mail fraud in the theft of
$360,000 in donor checks. The committee is the main fund-raising arm
for Senate Democrats.
Most of the money was recovered before the November elections, but
about 10,000 still is missing, the AP reported.
Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.
------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.