Guilty verdict in Kentucky vote buying trial

Here's another story that simply isn't getting the attention it deserves. Voting is one of the great blessings of living in a democratic society: Those that defile that blessing deserve widespread public scorn. And today, yet another public official was found guilty of vote-buying.

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

A federal jury found Bath County Judge-Executive Walter Shrout guilty Friday of conspiracy to buy votes, making false statements to a federal agent and obstruction of justice.

He was on trial in a vote-buying case that grew out of the May 2006 primary election.

U.S. District Chief Judge Joseph M. Hood ordered Shrout to resign from office no later than noon Monday.

Twelve people have been indicted in connection with the Bath County investigation, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Amul Thapar.

As with Wednesday's Herald-Leader report, the party affiliation of Shrout is not mentioned in the article, I'll give it to you: He's a Democrat.

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