U.S. attorneys to field election-fraud claims

PORTLAND – U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby said Friday she has appointed two assistants to supervise the investigation and prosecution of any cases of election fraud that surface in Maine during Tuesday’s balloting.

The appointments of Assistant U.S. Attorneys James McCarthy and John Gleason as district election officers for Maine were in line with a Department of Justice Voting Integrity Initiative announced last month by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

As part of their assignments, McCarthy and Gleason will be on duty Election Day to receive complaints of election fraud.

“Election fraud dilutes the worth of votes honestly cast. It also corrupts the essence of our representative form of government. As a crime against both the individual and the government, it will be dealt with promptly and aggressively,” Silsby said.