Federal judge gives Bath CJE a COLD "bath".
The jury in the federal trial of the Bath Co. Judge Executive vote buying case has found CJE Walter Shrout, guilty of conspiracy to buy votes, making false statements to a federal agent and obstruction of justice. Shrout was one of twelve people indicted in connection the May 2006 primary, which Shrout won against Michael Swartz, who also pleaded guilty on vote-buying charges. U.S. District Chief Judge Joseph M. Hood immediately ordered Shrout to resign from office by noon Monday. I do NOT know much about Bath County (or Eastern Kentucky politics other than what I've read and heard), but it sure sounds to me like someone got a deserved COLD "bath", pun intended!
Labels: Corruption, Crime, Democracy for sale, Kentucky politics
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 1:52 PM
2 Comments:
While I don't live in Bath County, what Judge Hood did should have every citizen in Bath County saying "Thank you".
The former Knott County Judge-Executive, Donnie Newsome, was allowed to continue serving in office for close to a year after being convicted of vote fraud in the Ross Harris case while appealing his case. How was it fair to the people of Knott County that the CEO of their county government was sitting in a jail cell like some kind of Eastern Kentucky "goodfella".
My thinking is that once a public official is convicted of a crime by a jury of their peers, the right and honorable thing to do is to step down from office. However, as was the case with Judge Newsome in Knott County that didn't happen. I applaud Judge Hood for his actions in looking out for the citizens of Bath County who want and need honest government.
Amen. I do NOT know what it will take to WIPE OUT corruption from Kentucky politics. Maybe, I am asking for way too much from Kentuckians!
Post a Comment
<< Home