Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 10,242
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AP: Tony Bennett investigation called for prosecution
Quote:
A monthslong investigation into former Indiana schools Superintendent Tony Bennett's use of state staff and resources during his 2012 re-election campaign found ample evidence to support federal wire fraud charges, according to a copy of the 95-page report viewed by the Associated Press.
Despite a recommendation that charges be pursued, Bennett has never faced prosecution.
The investigation, which was completed by the inspector general's office in February, found more than 100 instances in which Bennett or his employees potentially violated federal wire fraud law.
That contrasts sharply with an eight-page formal report issued in July that said the office found minimal violations, resulting in a $5,000 fine and an admonishment that Bennett could have avoided fines by rewriting rules to allow some campaign work on state time.
Marion County prosecutor on Bennett: IG 'never provided' report
Inspector General David Thomas, who is leaving office this month, did not explain the discrepancies in a brief email Tuesday but said the investigation was submitted to state and federal prosecutors. However, the full report compiled from the six-month investigation, which is closely guarded, clearly shows that Thomas' investigator believed grounds existed for charges against Bennett.
The report also cites the successful prosecution of former Lake County Surveyor George Van Til as a blueprint for prosecution. Van Til, a Democrat, pleaded guilty last December to six counts of wire fraud and admitted to using county employees for campaign work from 2007 to 2012.
Bennett's use of state resources during his failed 2012 re-election campaign came under scrutiny after the AP reported in September 2013 that Bennett had kept multiple campaign databases on Department of Education servers and that his calendar listed more than 100 instances of "campaign calls" during regular work hours. The AP also reported that Bennett had ordered his staff to dissect a speech by his Democratic opponent for inaccuracies — in apparent violation of Indiana election and ethics laws.
Bennett, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, told the AP on Tuesday that the matter was closed and that he had no comment.
Bennett was a former star in national education circles and protege of former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. But Bennett resigned as Florida's schools chief in August 2013 after the AP published emails showing he had overhauled Indiana's "A-F" school grading system to benefit a charter school run by a prominent Republican donor.
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I didn't even know this was happening! I wonder how many more politicians are behaving just like this... probably most of them, tbh 
Thoughts? 
