“I never intended to violate the law, nor do I believe I have. I maintain my actual innocence” — a statement from Mr. John Ley in The Columbian on his two misdemeanor convictions for voter violations as said to Judge John Fairgrieve (“Rep. John Ley pleads guilty to two voter violation charges,” Feb. 10).
Using an “in re Barr” plea, one can see why an “innocent” man would take the offer. One would think a man with honor would take his leave from the Legislature, but a man of honor probably wouldn’t have gotten in such a fix that using the in re Barr plea was his only chance to escape more severe penalties.
It would be interesting to hear from his fellow legislators in the 17th, 18th and 49th districts on serving with someone convicted of voter violations. With the continuing lawsuit from the Republican Party on the alleged disparities in the 18th Senate race and with Mr. Ley’s actions in the 18th, one might think, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
