Republican Agency Head Indicted on 21 More Felonies

Former Agency Head Indicted on 21 More Felonies http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBP8UXIYBE.html

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A former state Transportation Cabinet commissioner tried to influence a witness and shredded or altered evidence, a grand jury charged in a 21-count felony indictment Wednesday.

The counts returned against Dan Druen are the most serious charges leveled during the two-month investigation of personnel practices in Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration.

Transportation Cabinet personnel director Tim Hazlette was also indicted on a single misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to violate personnel laws. Hazlette is the ninth person charged in the ongoing investigation.

Druen, who was asked to resign as commissioner of administrative services in the Transportation Cabinet, was previously charged with 13 misdemeanor personnel violations and a felony count of witness tampering.

The new witness tampering charge alleges Druen tried to influence the testimony of his former assistant, Cheryl Casey. Casey made her fourth appearance before the grand jury earlier Wednesday before the indictments were returned.

The 20 charges of evidence tampering allege Druen destroyed and shredded evidence that had been subpoenaed by the grand jury. The destruction allegedly took place in late May, just as the special grand jury investigation was ramping up.

Prosecutor Scott Crawford-Sutherland said each of the felony charges against Druen are punishable by up to five years in prison.

Druen had previously pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor personnel charges.

Calls to his lawyer at his Louisville home and office were not returned Wednesday. Calls to Hazlette's attorney were also not returned.

A brief statement from Fletcher's office hit back at the prosecution. 'It should be clear to any reasonable person that this prosecutor is out of control. This cries out for justice,' the statement said.

Fletcher, a Republican, has accused Attorney General Greg Stumbo of conducting the investigation to further his own political interests.

Kentucky? Did I mention that red is the color of political corruption on a US map? Yes, Ayatolla Yu Soe.

Two kinds of Republicans: Those who have been indicted already, and those who are trying to duck indictment. They're _all_ criminals.