IN GOP: Faked signatures for Obama in '08 Primary are a crime

The Indiana Republican party is calling for a Department of Justice investigation into alleged fraud in the 2008 Indiana Democratic Primary.
 
In a news conference Friday, Indiana GOP Chair Eric Holcomb said there were likely hundreds of crimes committed during the Democratic Primary ballot petition process in 2008. The allegation comes after an investigation by the South Bend Tribune and Howey Politics Indiana reportedly found forged and duplicated signatures on 2008 primary ballot petitions filed in St. Joseph County by both the Obama and Clinton campaigns.
 
"To the extent of my knowledge, it's hard to find another example of hundreds or a pattern of this magnitude ever happening in the state of Indiana," Holcomb said.
 
Former Indiana Governor Joe Kernan has said that a signature that appeared on Obama's petition to enter the Indiana primary is not his. The investigation by the South Bend Tribune and Howey Politics Indiana reported that more than a hundred signatures on President Obama's petition were faked. The report also stated that dozens of people whose signatures appeared on Clinton's petition have now come forward to say they never signed it.
 
A letter from the Indiana GOP to U.S. Attorney David Capp, of the Northern Indiana District states: "Without the allegedly fraudulent signatures, Barack Obama did not have the required 500 signatures from Indiana's 2nd Congressional District. As a consequence, under Indiana law, Barack Obama was not eligible to be on the primary ballot in 2008.
 
Holcomb said the GOP did not mention the Clinton campaign because it is unclear whether or not there were enough bogus signatures to take her below the 500 required in the 2nd Congressional district.
 
Holcomb said it appears the problems in St. Joseph County also extended to the way Obama's petition was approved.
 
"The Republican was out of the office on bereavement leave and her stamp, in an unlocked drawer, was used to certify these bogus signatures, so this goes deeper than just duplicating signatures and turning them in," Holcomb said.
 
On Friday, Indiana Democratic Chair Dan Parker released the following statement:
 
"We continue to fully support the investigation into this isolated incident in St. Joseph County. We want to know who committed this act, and we want that person held accountable. Like Republican Chairman Holcomb said, the focus right now needs to be on finding the person responsible in this case."
 
Holcomb said he isn't convinced the alleged fraud is isolated to St. Joseph County.
 
"We're only talking about one county in one state, but this may be in fact, the tip of the iceberg," Holcomb said. "I'm sure we'll learn more as the facts come into the light."
 
Holcomb said he believes those responsible should face federal felony charges because it involves a candidate for federal election. However, he said the goal is not to try and somehow change outcomes of elections that have already been decided.
 
"That's in the past," Holcomb said. "What I want to know going forward is what happened, who was involved and what's the appropriate punishment for that crime?"

Neither the Obama campaign nor the Northern Indiana District Attorney's office have issued any comments on the allegations or requests for a federal investigation.
 
Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White did respond to the controversy by pointing out that the window for challenging petitions is short, and has long since passed in this case. However, he stopped short of saying those who might be responsible should not be identified and held accountable.