Former GOP official seeks new trial

[Thom Little]

A former national Republican Party official convicted in a phone-jamming plot against Democrats in New Hampshire is seeking a new trial.

James Tobin of Bangor, Maine, filed a motion on Dec. 21 seeking a new trial and to overturn the jury's guilty verdict. The documents filed in federal court in Concord do not include Tobin's arguments for a new trial. They are expected to be filed within a month.

Tobin faces up to seven years in prison for telephone harassment.

The harassment occurred on Election Day 2002, when hundreds of hang-up calls overwhelmed Democratic get-out-the-vote phone banks in New Hampshire.

State Democrats are pursuing a civil lawsuit, which they hope will expose knowledge or approval of the scheme by GOP officials higher than Tobin.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ME_GOP_PHONE_JAMMING_MEOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-28-11-14-36

[Judi Lynn]

1. Is there any possible way his sentence can be extended?

His arrogance needs to learn some limits, by god. You remember this guy, don't you?

Ex-GOP Official Faces Conspiracy ChargeFormer GOP Official Faces One Federal Count of Conspiring Against Voters' Rights in 2002
By BEVERLEY WANG Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. Dec 6, 2005 — A former national Republican Party official played a key role in an Election Day 2002 phone jamming plot against New Hampshire Democrats, the prosecution said Tuesday during opening statements.

James Tobin, President Bush's onetime New England campaign chairman, is being tried on one federal count of conspiring against voters' rights and several counts involving telephone harassment. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Levchuk said the state GOP's former executive director, Chuck McGee, had Tobin's blessing for the scheme as well as his help in the plot to disrupt Democratic get-out-the-vote phone banks and a nonpartisan ride-to-the-polls line.

Tobin, 45, resigned as New England chairman of Bush's 2004 campaign in October 2004 when the phone jamming accusations became public. Tobin also has been political director of the Republican National Committee.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1380055



Tobin has earned
the _Bush Banner
of Honor.

Only a _Bush
Republican would
dream of denying
voters their only
chance to vote.

[dogfacedboy]

2. Take it like a MAN, Tobin!

I'm sick of these cockroaches crying "victim". Tobin broke the law, was convicted, and now he must do the time, like all convicted criminals.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Zero tolerance for political dirty tricks

Friday, December 30, 2005
Zero tolerance for political dirty tricks

The conviction of a former national Republican official in a phone-jamming scheme should send a message to political operatives everywhere: Dirty tricks designed to suppress the vote will not be tolerated.
(snip)

The former director of New Hampshire's Republican Party, Chuck McGee, admitted coming up with the scheme and hiring Allen Raymond to make the jamming calls. McGee served seven months for conspiracy. Raymond has pleaded guilty to his involvement.

Tobin, 45, the former regional director for the Republican National Committee, approved the plan. He faces a maximum of seven years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

The phone jamming-plot was a senseless and immature effort to lower Democratic turnout at the polls that has caused more damage to the Republican cause than any electoral benefit it may have produced.
(snip/...)

http://www.ecnnews.com/cgi-bin/05/ntstory.pl?-sec-Editorial+fn-nedi1229-20051229-

[maddezmom]

4. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2009500