Political Felonies?

Petition the government go to jail?

By itself out of control Attorney Generals are not news but this case should be noticed. This guy, Attorney General Drew Edmondson is a typical government hack. He has no problem using taxpayer money and recourses to intimidate citizens who dare cross his big bucks financers.

Oklahoma's Most Wanted

The latest thing in political felonies: a petition drive.

A veteran political activist is facing 10 years in prison and a hefty fine for attempting to petition government for redress of grievances. The latest news from Pakistan? No, this is happening in Oklahoma.

Last month Paul Jacob, the former head of U.S. Term Limits and current head of Citizens in Charge, was led out of an Oklahoma City courtroom in handcuffs after pleading not guilty to charges that he conspired to defraud the state. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who's overseeing this bizarre prosecution, has accused Mr. Jacob and two fellow petition organizers--Rick Carpenter of Oklahomans in Action and Susan Johnson of National Voter Outreach--of bringing out-of-state petition gatherers to Oklahoma to collect signatures.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010882

The article goes on to point out that the petition gatherers had contacted the state offices that oversee such activities and were told that anyone can come to Oklahoma and declare residency.

Another article,

http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/10/oklahoma_3_indicted_for_solici.php

points out that

officials on both the State Election Board and in the Secretary of State’s office. This information was also consistent with the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling in a previous case challenging a 2001 petition drive on the basis of residency.

Seems clear to me that what is being done is political on behalf of those who have their fingers in the public purse.