Indicted, disgraced Indiana Secretary of State to face yet another investigation
Already facing multiple felony counts in Hamilton County, Secretary of State Charlie White is facing yet another investigation.
At the heart of the matter is a massive 265-page report compiled under then-Secretary of State Todd Rokita allegedly detailing evidence against White. Special prosecutors John Dowd and Dan Sigler called for the Indiana Inspector General’s office to investigate whether White improperly accessed the file after he took over the office in January.
Dowd confirmed the request was made, but refused to comment further. Inspector General David Thomas also refused to comment on the investigation.
White’s spokesman Jason Thomas wasn’t aware of the Inspector General’s investigation this afternoon.
Although Rokita’s office created the report, at least one member of the Indiana Recount Commission — of which Rokita was a member — didn’t see it before the board voted 2-1 in December that White should take office despite the voter fraud allegations.
The report later was given to Sigler and Dowd, who presented much of the information to a Hamilton County grand jury. That grand jury indicted White on seven felony counts of voter fraud, perjury and theft last week.
White has denied that he was trying to deceive when he listed his ex-wife’s address on his voter registration form just before closing on a new home outside of his district, claiming it was an honest mistake caused by a whirlwind schedule.
White, who is currently out on a $10,000 bond, will have his initial court hearing at 1:15 p.m. Friday in a Hamilton County courtroom.
Despite the bulk of the taxpayer-funded report consisting of public documents, both Rokita and White have refused to release it. Indiana Public Access Counselor Andrew J. Kossack ruled last year that because the report was “deliberative material … and communicated for the purpose of decision making,” it was exempt from the state’s open records laws.
Although they can release the report as well, Sigler and Dowd have refused.
Stay Classy Indiana