Press Release
United States Attorney James R. Dedrick
Eastern District of Tennessee
CONTACT: SHARRY DEDMAN-BEARD
PHONE: 865-545-4167
FAX: 865-545-4176
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE ELECTION OFFICER NAMED
[Knoxville, TN] -- Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Atchley, Jr. has been appointed by United States Attorney James R. Dedrick to serve as the District Election Officer for the Eastern District of Tennessee. As such, AUSA Atchley will be responsible, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters, for overseeing the District's handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses.
This appointment is part of a nationwide Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative announced by the Attorney General. The goals of this Initiative are to deter election fraud and discrimination at the polls and to prosecute election-related offenses wherever they occur.
In order to respond to any complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Atchley will be on duty throughout the election process. AUSA Atchley can be contacted by the public at 865-545-4167. The FBI also will have Special Agents available to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached by the public at 865-544-0751. In addition, complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made to the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section in Washington, D.C. at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767.
United States Attorney Dedrick, explained that while state and local authorities generally serve as the front line in combating election fraud, a federal prosecution might be warranted in the following situations:
* Conduct designed to corrupt a federal election. If the object of the criminal conduct was to corrupt the outcome of the federal election, a federal investigation and/or prosecution may be warranted.
* Civil rights. Where the object of the fraud was to discriminate against racial, ethnic, or language minority groups, there is a paramount federal interest.
* Prosecutor of last resort. Federalization may be required in order to address longstanding patterns of electoral fraud, either at the request of state or local authorities, or because those authorities appear unwilling or unable to respond to a specific complaint. In some circumstances, state or local authorities also may lack the financial resources to pursue certain investigations.
* Links to other crimes. There also may be a need to federalize where there is a reason to believe that the conduct at issue is connected to other forms of criminal activity.
For additional information, please contact United States Attorney James R. Dedrick, Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Atchley, Jr., or Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard at 865-545-4167.