Kentucky Governor, indicted Republican Ernie Fletcher, pleaded guilty today at his arraignment. Fletcher has been vacationing this past week in Florida and did not return home for the arraignment. Instead, Fletcher's attorney--Steve Pitt--presented Fletcher's plea on his behalf.
The Lexington Herald-Leader Reports:
An attorney for Gov. Ernie Fletcher entered a not-guilty plea for him today on three misdemeanor charges of violating state personnel laws.
Fletcher was not at the arraignment in Franklin District Court. The new judge appointed to handle the high-profile case told lawyers this week that the Republican governor could authorize his defense team to enter a plea for him. Fletcher has been vacationing in Florida and is expected to return to work Monday.
Special Judge David Melcher of Cynthiana, whom Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Lambert appointed to the case after Franklin District Judge Guy Hart Jr. recused himself, set a tentative trial date for Nov. 8. He said attorneys had told him a trial would take two to three weeks. The date is one day after the general election.
Steve Pitt, an attorney for Fletcher, said the scheduling of the trial had nothing to do with the election.
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