 |
|
| Email this article | Printer friendly page |
| For Immediate Release | |
| Nov 28, 2000 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
|
Politicians Try To Prevent Judicial Watch From Examining Disputed Palm Beach Ballots (Miami, FL) Al Gore and George W. Bush are trying in court to prevent Judicial Watch from counting disputed ballots from the presidential election in Palm Beach. Judicial Watch began examining the disputed ballots at 10:00 am today. Circuit Court Judge Jorge LaBarga ordered Palm Beach to give access to Judicial Watch under Florida state law, which allows citizens to inspect ballots. Johnson Lambert & Co., a public accounting firm with expertise both in counting ballots and in fraud, will help oversee the Judicial Watch effort. Gore is seeking to deny Judicial Watch volunteers access to over 3,300 ballots that the Gore forces believe are in dispute. Gore is seeking to remove the 3,300 disputed ballots to Leon County, where they are in court contesting aspects of the Florida presidential election. Gore does not object to Judicial Watch examining any of the other ballots in Palm Beach. (Under Florida state law, Judicial Watch will not be able to touch ballots, but merely examine them.) George W. Bush is also seeking to prevent Judicial Watch access to the ballots at this time. “Our examination is continuing as scheduled in Palm Beach. The fact that both Gore and Bush are trying to stop us shows Judicial Watch must be doing something right. What are Al Gore and George W. Bush afraid of? Our examination is non-partisan, independent and under the guidance of a certified public accounting firm. This ballot examination process will be followed according to law -- and Al Gore and George W. Bush should stop trying to thwart the American people’s access to ballots. The American people are rightfully tired of these legal games,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. Over 400 citizens from across the country have volunteered to help Judicial Watch count the disputed and other ballots, such as absentee military ballots. Judicial Watch plans to conduct an independent analysis of disputed and other ballots throughout the state of Florida, beginning with Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. |
|
