A DUer I met at Andy's memorial has been arrested!

[Generic Other]

I met her at Andy's memorial. She helped organize Andy's memorial.
I suspect she's being targeted for her activities concerning voter verified paper trails. She definitely was one of Andy's insiders.

<snip>

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 • Last updated 2:13 p.m. PT
Former King County Elections superintendent arrested
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE -- Former King County Elections Superintendent Julie Ann Kempf has been arrested for investigation of forgery, theft, criminal impersonation and assault.
Kempf, 40, who was fired in 2002 for what officials called a "pattern of dishonesty," was booked into the King County Jail just after 5 p.m. Tuesday and released less than an hour later, jail records show. The arrest was first reported in the Seattle Weekly on Wednesday.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?c...


Former King County Elections Superintendent Julie Anne Kempf was booked into jail Tuesday, July 19, on investigation of forgery, theft, criminal impersonation, and assault on a police officer, Seattle Weekly has learned.
The probe that led to her arrest is related to events that occurred after she left her county job in December 2002, but it involves recent incidents connected to the elections office.
No formal charges have been filed, and details are sketchy. But sources say Kempf, 40, allegedly sent current King County Elections Director Dean Logan an e-mail, pretending to be someone else. She is also suspected of inserting false documents into a file of public records while she was reviewing them, allegedly constituting forgery. Sources also say she stopped payment on a check that she had used to pay for the documents and, during an investigative interview attempt last week, allegedly tried to hit a sheriff's detective with her car.
King County Sheriff's spokesperson John Urquhart noted that it is department policy not to identify targets of probes but said, "I can tell you that we've had an ongoing investigation related to this, and that the suspect in this case was booked into jail last evening, then released after the person was fingerprinted and photographed." King County Jail records confirm the investigative charges as well as Kempf's booking and release around 5 p.m. Tuesday. Urquhart also says the person involved in the arrest allegedly assaulted a police officer: "When we tried to interview her on July 11, she was in a car at her residence. The detective had his ID out, showed his badge, and she drove off. He had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the vehicle. We have no doubt she saw him."
Kempf, who could not be reached for comment, was fired as King County's superintendent of elections in 2002 for what a dismissal letter described as "a pattern of dishonesty ranging from fabrication to significant distortion of important facts and events." She allegedly lied about why absentee ballots were mailed late for the November 2002 election, according to a county report back then, and was accused of backdating documents and delaying the public release of completed ballot counts, temporarily omitting 1,500 votes in one election.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0530/050720_news_...

[samdogmom]

1. Wow!

They so want it to turn out the way they tried to fashion it don't they? This is a little scary. My thoughts are with Ms. Kempf--please prevail!

[faithnotgreed]

2. whaaaaaatt

sounds like one side anyway

whats the real story

[DemoTex]

3. Innocent until proven guilty ...

Smacks of smear.

BTW: First link has expired. Second OK.

[Peace Patriot]

4. These charges have a phony ring to them, like the charges against

Kevin Shelley--flimsy stuff that just evaporates upon investigation. She sent an email under another name AFTER she was already a private person, not in the office? She inserted a "false document" into a gov't public records packet that SHE had requested and written a check for? Then stopped payment on the check? These are CRIMES? These prompted an ARREST?

What the hell is this about?

As for speeding away from her home, from someone who SAID he was a police officer--weren't there false sheriffs showing up at someone's home, in the Andy Stephenson harassment? Sounds like she was scared.

Elections have now become big business; big money deals, with electronic voting; lots of pork at stake, and lavish lobbying vacations at the Beverly Hilton (this August), and future jobs and all sorts of power and perks. Lots of motive to try to discredit someone who saw it all from the inside, and is an activist on it.

Generic Other, I think you need to get this info to the people who were close to Andy, like sfexpat2000. See this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. I already let her know....

Also Will Pitt.

[DemoTex]

6. This is when I wish I were a goddamn lawyer.

My old bird-dog nose smells carrion, but I can't DO a damn thing about it, other than write. Shit-fire! Know what I mean, Vern?

[Peace Patriot]

7. Generic Other, I PMed sfexpat2000. You should post this in the

DU 2004 Election Results and Discussion forum--which admin. has hidden away, but we're still there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Generic Other]

8. Here's what I know

"inserting false documents into a file of public records while she was reviewing them"

She told me these false documents are otherwise known as BOOKMARKS or POST ITS.

She says stopped payment on documents because they were incomplet--less than half what she ordered.

As for assaulting a police officer, if this is true why did they let her drive away? That doesn't sound likely.

Also, she told me she had read in the PI last week that she was to be arrested on Monday. So they added charges of assault after reporting to the paper last week that her arrest was immenent?

That is too weird.

[jonny_durango]

37. Not Possible

I don't know how many of you have hung out w/ Julie, but she one of the smartest, most level-headed people I've ever met....if you saw her speak at Andy's memorial you'd know that she is very kind and caring and upstanding. She was the calm behind the scenes thinker that fueled Andy's fire. I refuse to believe that she violated the law with malice in her heart.

Dean Logan and the pigs on the canvassing board are just angry because Julie has been almost single handedly providing Andy and yes, the one who's name we no longer speak, with info about King County Elections Systems and election systems in general.

This is a revenge attack against her and a smear campaign against the cause. Now that Andy is gone (God bless his soul) they will try to discredit and defraud anyone else who picks up where he left off. Let us all rise to the occasion and stick it to these swine.

Jonny Durango

[guruoo]

53. If true, I'd say she's lucky to..

just be alive. I've heard cops openly brag about
jumping in front of cars just to give them an excuse
to use deadly force.

[nashville_brook]

54. this sounds like the kind of thing that petty people in power do

fits the tools they would have at their disposal. she's in my thoughts!

[wli]

9. clearly framing a witness to election fraud

They can't let the truth get out, so they've got to smear the whistleblower.

[Oversea Visitor]

10. Think

someone should let JC know about this. The congressman can best protect her.

[Generic Other]

11. It's all so that King County Execs can announce they've

found the source of all the problems in the 2004 election.

This is an attempt to scapegoat Kempf. She's to be blamed for problems that occurred years after she quit working there. Just so the boys can say they fixed the problem.

Just keep on yelling it as loud as you can!

VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS. The only way to fix the problem.

[troubleinwinter]

12. VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS

[BlueBloodDem]

14. Bump!

Do we know if she has a good attorney? I hope she is doing OK? I don't know her, but have read about this over the past few years, and the whole thing smells like a set up to me.
Good Luck Julie!!!

[progressoid]

56. psst...

(we don't say 'bump' here)

[iconoclastNYC]

19. I'd say the first step to fixing the problem

Is making sure this whistleblower does not go down. She should have a very well funded defense. The grass roots should fund it. Paual Jones had her elves...the heros of the left should have them too.

If this is a conspiracy to silence a whistleblower this case must be examined closely. It seems like a lead to me in the larger case at hand.

[YankeeFan]

13. But in the Meantime Freepers Are Laughing Like Mad!

As I have a Part-time job as a Poll Watcher myself I hope she didn't do anything wrong.

But if she did I cannot ever have any sympathy for her.

As the past two Presidential Elections were so close against us I can understand the frustration we have hoping for Honest Counts.
I am satisfied that We Lost in 2000 and 2004. If I wasn't I would not say it.

Because of the allegations I might have a tougher time satisfying State, Local and Federal Standards because I'm a Registered Democrat. Repubs might have an easier time because of her.

As a Poll Watcher everything I do has to be be way beyond reproach. And she just might have tougher for me.

[Generic Other]

15. We lost but not by number of votes cast

You may be "satisfied that We Lost in 2000 and 2004" but I remain unconvinced. I think a great many people agree with me.

[YankeeFan]

18. Nationwide, Maybe

But not in the precinct I worked.

I was VERY sure about that.
As the Repubs won by a large margin I was very careful about the count.

As far as National we might have to start facing the ugly fact that we're not as welcome as the Repubs.
After all; first Gore in 2000, then the "Guy Who Should Have Been Dean" in 2004 conceded defeat.
If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops and there would not have been two consecutive concession speeches by us Democrats.

[Generic Other]

20. If I had depended on CNN and the networks for my information

during the past 5 years, I'd also think the most important things that happened since Bush took office had to do with Gary Condit's intern, Laci Petersen's murder, and Michael Jackson's bizarrities.

Guess what? My memory is long and very accurate. Gore won Florida in 2000. And no one knows who won Ohio in 2004. Ask the Black Congressional Caucus, something CNN and the networks neglected to do as far as I can tell.

[linazelle]

24. You can't be serious.

"If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops..."

So the Regressives won in one precinct that you are absolutely sure of. You can't extrapolate those results for the nation.

As for concessions...yes, people conceded--after the rigged votes were in. But conceding doesn't change the fact that Bush is not now and has never been a legitimate president.

[troubleinwinter]

25. I'm sure that you are delighted

that you were very sure the Republicans won your precinct.

But, really, gimme a break, "If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops" Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!

[Minstrel Boy]

34. "If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty...

CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops"

I don't know whether to or .

[Jim Sagle]

63. Whadda buncha shit. CNN, that is.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. This is the funniest fucking thing I've read all WEEK:

"If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops and there would not have been two consecutive concession speeches by us Democrats."



Geeezus! Lenny Bruce? Bill Hicks? Those cats got nothin' on you, maaaaaaaaan! You. Are. A. Comedian!!!

Oh, wait. You're serious. ("us Democrats".. Nice touch.)

That's even funnier.

[Mandate My Ass]

46. Yeah, the same CNN who changed exit poll data to match

the vote counts in the middle of the night.

[Jim Sagle]

64. He'll be here all week.

Don't forget to try the veal.

[yodermon]

57. US Democrats say:

[RetroLounge]

59. Hoo boy!

"If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops and there would not have been two consecutive concession speeches by us Democrats"

Who writes your material, Ann Coulter?



RL

[Old and In the Way]

62. I commend you on your ability to turn an ironic phrase.

"If there had been the slightest hint of dishonesty CNN and the networks would have screamed it from the rooftops and there would not have been two consecutive concession speeches by us Democrats."

Did you type that without laughing out loud?

As a lifelong poll-watching Republican, I can assure you that the Republicans have stolen the last 2 elections.

[bobbieinok]

17. Gore won FL in 2000...this the result of newspaper consortium that

did what Gore asked be done in Bush vs Gore.....Scalia stopped the count b/c the results 'might call into question Bush's win"?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

the results were supposed to be published 9-11-01.....b/c of 'unavoidable circumstances' they were finally published later....the meme the republicans tried to push 'oh, that report shouldn't be published; 9-11 changed everything'

W definitely did NOT win in 2000 and the 'results' of 2004 are looking more suspicious every day

[linazelle]

21. Who cares if Freepers--who hate America and fair voting--laugh?? n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

43. Some of them are doing other things right now, I think. nt

[insane_cratic_gal]

49. Drink much KoolAide?

come your satisfied we lost 2000/2004..

Now who exactly did you vote for?


First time in history.. the election results and the exit polls deviated from the actual results was with 2000! Ironically enough it happened again in 2004! hmmmmmmmm Bush asswipe in 2000 and OH look at that, Bush asswipe in 2004!

Have you looked at OH?
Have you looked at NM?
Have you read anything outside of your comfort zone that might raise your hackles regarding the 2004 election. Have you gone and looked at all the work this board has done on the 2004 election abnormalities? Have you researched anything besides what CNN feeds you?

Your prejudging the information quite quickly are you not? What happened to Innocent before guilt. You said one word in support if you want to call it that "I hope she didn't do anything wrong."

[RetroLounge]

61. "Freepers Are Laughing Like Mad!"

Who gives a fuck?

RL

[coffeenap]

16. kick--and help?

[BiggJawn]

22. This smells fishy. I don't know how they do it in the PNW, but...

...When somebody "tries to hit a Sheriff's Deputy with a car" down here, they don't arrest them, they call the coroner.

"...The suspect disobeyed Officer's commands to stop the vehicle, thus the Officers, fearing for their lives, opened fire on the suspect vehicle. The suspect died from multiple gunshot wounds to the back of the head and shoulders. Investigators counted 35 bullet holes in the trunk lid and rear fenders..."

[Generic Other]

23. That sounded fishy to me too

Seattle has WTO hardened cops.

[marbuc]

26. Who is Andy?

[GreenPartyVoter]

27. This is Andy (see below)

[marbuc]

28. This means nothing to me.

I still don't know who he is.

[libnnc]

30. Andy Stephenson

"This means nothing to me. I still don't know who he is."

I'll be polite because you're new here.

Andy was a long-time DUer who fought for voter verified paper ballots and other important issues to this forum. He passed away a little over a week ago after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

There have been probably over a thousand different threads about him here in the last two weeks. He was a beloved and great man.

People here at DU worked hard to raise cash so he could have an opperation that we hoped would save his life. It's a pretty touchy area right now, we're all very upset that he's gone.

[GreenPartyVoter]

31. Here is a wonderful piece that he wrote

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/Ballots.htm

[marbuc]

45. Why wouldn't you be polite?

Thanks for the info.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. Because some on the 'other side' have accused Andy of

faking his illness and his death. They frequently come here and - for lack of a better term - show extremely bad manners.

[marbuc]

55. Well that's unfortunate.

and doesn't make a lot of sense. If you're referring to "Freepers," I'm not surprised. Most are selfish, ignorant, racist/homophobic/sexist/xenophobic, small minded, and generally not very smart. I wouldn't worry about what they think or say.

[EFerrari]

29. Does anybody know this lady? Andy never mentioned her to

me. I'm lost.

[hexola]

32. Freepers pointing to this passage in "What a ballot is"

"Now I know that I have gotten off track here and talked about all the bad guys in elections but there are people protecting your ballot. Some examples are Freddie Oakley of Yolo County California, Ion Sancho of Leon County Florida and Kevin Shelly and Julie Anne Kempf formerly of King County Washington. These people are examples of people working hard to protect our right to vote and in the case of Julie Anne losing their job in the process..."

[EFerrari]

33. Good. Their "hooked on phonics" time must be kicking in.

Please.

[Renew Deal]

35. Andy had posted that there were serious problems in Kings county

Someone would have to look for the threads, but this may not be a surprise.

[jonny_durango]

36. Julie, If there is anything you need, anything AT ALL

Hey I just heard what happened to you. Without disclosing my real name, I'm the guitarist from Andy's memorial, Gail's son. Anyhow, I'm really glad to hear you're out of jail and they didn't take you upstairs for the night.

If there is anything at all that you need please let me know. A good friend of mine used to be a public defender and he's very knowledgeable on these issues and down for the good fight, he was a big supporter of Andy's. Ted and Gentry have my phone #. If you need help looking up case law or fundraising for legal costs just give me a call. I wish you the best!

Jonny Durango

[EFerrari]

38. Goes for me, too. Pm me and in the mean time, stay safe.. n/t

[EFerrari]

39. Okay, I just talked to ClaudiaJean

Thank you, Generic Other, for the heads up.

We had an extended conversation and what you all suspected is exactly right. This was political and meant to shut up a whistle blower.

ClaudiaJean has a good cool head and she has good representation. She will keep us posted.

In the mean time, try to remember how many of the people that we consider to be heroes have been arrested. Arrest is the bluntest instrument a political machine has. And notice, they did not keep her. She must really be a danger to the State.

ClaudiaJean worked closely with Andy on sensitive issues, so in some ways, this arrest was predictable. But please remember, there is a legal case going on here. Let's show our support with that in mind.

Beth

[Boredtodeath]

40. Clearly, it's the 'Kevin Shelley" tactic

They couldn't shut her up and stop her activism, so they'll try to paint her with a scandal.

It's a shoutout to all evoting activists - shut up or we'll shut you up. It's time to stand up and be counted, folks.

I'm standing, how 'bout the rest of us?

[EFerrari]

41. They can come and arrest me, too. I won't shut up and I'll support

Julie Anne in any way I can.

Thugs: Go f8ck yourselves. We're not going away.

[Generic Other]

44. Me too

Thanks Beth for getting to the bottom of this!

[Robbie Michaels]

58. You've Got That Right!

If they think I'm backing down anytime soon they'll be in for an unpleasant surprise. I've got your back!

[katinmn]

47. Thanks for checking into this.

Their war is getting dirtier.

[nashville_brook]

52. big kick to beth! thanks for the post

and do keep us "posted."

[meganmonkey]

50. This is mind-boggling

I wish her the best, and I hope that if there is anything we can do to help it will be made known here!!

[Capn Sunshine]

51. A good example of what lies in wait for you all

This is very Kevin Shelly-esque. Times like this everyone in the progressive community needs to spread this story far and wide.

It doesn't help that we have seen their meme spread of all of this being conspiracy theory.

Still, we can't sit by idly while they steamroller everyone in their way.

I posted about this at Kos as well, maybe this will be the tipping point we always look for.
Someone PM Keith Olberman!

[enough]

60. KICK