Democrats Quit Vote-Fraud Probe

Democrats on the Senate committee investigating allegations of voting irregularities in last year’s Louisiana Senate election withdrew from the probe. Sen. Wendell H. Ford of Kentucky, ranking Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, said members of his party view the investigation as partisan. The probe stems from complaints of fraud and corruption filed by the GOP loser in the election, Woody Jenkins, who lost to Democrat Mary Landrieu by 5,788 votes. His accusations of a variety of irregularities by Landrieu’s election committee prompted a formal investigation in April. Ford, in a statement Wednesday, said the probe has exceeded both its budget and time limit. Investigators also have failed to substantiate any of Jenkins’ claims, he said.