MISS ME BITCHES?

Hey Rich Travesky? CHARGES DISSMISSED!! Choke on that *****!

From The Associated Press:

By ROGER ALFORD / Associated Press Writer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Wearing a broad smile, Gov. Ernie Fletcher walked to
a podium Thursday afternoon for his first press conference since a judge
dismissed a three-count indictment charging him with violating state hiring
laws.

"It's over," an obviously relieved Fletcher declared.

The investigation of the governor ended Thursday when Special Judge David E.
Melcher approved a negotiated agreement dropping charges of criminal
conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination.

In the agreement, Fletcher admitted no wrongdoing but acknowledged the
evidence "strongly indicates wrongdoing" by his administration.

For the past year, the special grand jury has been investigating state
hiring decisions by the Fletcher administration. The grand jury indicted
Fletcher in May.

"The governor acknowledges that the evidence strongly indicates wrongdoing
by his administration with regard to personnel actions with the merit
system," the judge said in a five-page order dismissing the charges.

By settling the matter, Fletcher can seek re-election without the shadow of
criminal charges looming over him. Meanwhile, Attorney General Greg Stumbo,
who has been considered a possible Democratic candidate, could run without
breaking his promise that he wouldn't challenge Fletcher in a gubernatorial
race while the case was pending.

Several current and former state employees who appeared before the grand
jury alleged they had been discriminated against by the Republican
administration because of their political leanings. They claimed to have
been passed over for promotions, transferred, demoted or fired.

Melcher ruled this month that Fletcher could not be tried while in office,
essentially putting the case on hold indefinitely. The judge had asked
prosecutors and defense attorneys to try to work out a settlement, which
they had been negotiating for the past two days.

"We recognized that the governor probably would never stand trial in this
case," Stumbo said. "Our objective was to see that the law was complied
with, to see that the truth was brought forward."

But one of Fletcher's attorneys suggested Stumbo had a weak case.

"Prosecutors do not dismiss cases that they can win, particularly three
months after the indictment is rendered," attorney Steve Pitt during a news
conference with Fletcher in Louisville. "They knew they didn't have the
proof."

The grand jury has returned 29 indictments during its investigation, but
Fletcher last year issued pardons to anyone who was charged or could be
charged in the probe, excluding himself.

"He has the power to do pardon himself and we felt like that he would do so
before he left office," Stumbo said of Fletcher.

However, Fletcher said he did not plan to pardon himself.

"If I was going to pardon myself, I would have done it a long time ago,"
Fletcher said. "It would have been the easy way out. We did not choose the
easy way out."

Doug Doerting, the former state employee who triggered the investigation by
turning over evidence to the attorney general's office, said his goal all
along was to restore integrity to the state civil service. He said he was
pleased with the outcome.

"I agree with the attorney general," Doerting said. "I don't believe the
case would ever go to trial."

Among key points of the judge's order:

Fletcher acknowledges the evidence "strongly indicates wrongdoing" by his
administration, and that the actions "were inappropriate."

Four members of the state Personnel Board, appointed by Fletcher; and
Fletcher will have to select replacements from lists supplied by Stumbo.

Volunteers acting on behalf of the governor's office will be bound by the
Executive Branch Ethics Code.

The attorney general acknowledges that any action taken by the Fletcher
administration regarding the Merit System were "without malice."

Fletcher said he does not "admit to doing any wrongdoing because in fact I've
said my conscience is clear."

When told of Fletcher's comments, Stumbo said, "That's probably a little
more spin than it is fact."

"What he did or what he didn't do, only he knows," Stumbo added.

In reaching the agreement, defense attorneys and prosecutors said that
investigation and prosecution by the attorney general's office "were
necessary and proper exercises of his constitutional duty." They also agreed
that the investigation and prosecution benefited the state and ensured that
abuses of state hiring laws will be eliminated.

Melcher said the grand jury is to be commended for its "diligent service."
However, the agreement essentially ends its investigation. The attorney
general's office will not seek any additional e-mail or other documents for
the grand jury and no further criminal charges will be sought against
Fletcher under terms of the agreement.

Associated Press writers Joe Biesk in Frankfort and Bruce Schreiner and
Elizabeth Dunbar in Louisville contributed to this report.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

--

"a slap to the face is humilation, a slap to the back of the head is a wake
up call."
-NCIS Agent Jethro Gibbs

"I don't know what a 'hollaback girl' is, all I know is I want her dead.
Brian Grithiff