Two Wednesday's ago, Mississippi's Republican Party refused to hear Chris McDaniel's challenge to overturn the phony results of the June 24th GOP runoff. Instead, the party said McDaniel would do better taking his challenge to court. Well, it looks like that day has finally come after far too much delay (purposefully, no doubt)...
The lead-up to this day came last Thursday...MSNewsNow: Special Judge Hollis McGehee has scheduled a status conference and hearing for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the Circuit Court Courtroom of the Jones County Courthouse in Laurel in the matter of Chris McDaniel v. Thad Cochran. A scheduling order for further proceedings is expected to be set at that time.
The case is styled Chris McDaniel v. Thad Cochran, cause number 2014-76-CV8, filed in the Circuit Court of Jones County, Second Judicial District. Camera Coverage Notices should be directed to Court Administrator Rachel Stanley, fax number 601-428-3189, and Circuit Clerk Bart Gavin, fax number 601-399-4774.
McDaniel expressed his thoughts on the court case to reporters at WLBT, claiming this was more than an election.
"This is bigger than me. It's not about a race anymore. It's not about a campaign or candidacy. It's about making sure that this type of activity can never happen again," said Chris McDaniel.
Naaa, that don't sound rigged at all, Mr. Nosef! These establishment cronies are obviously trying to run the clock out...and they might just do it with the way they've dragged it out thus far.FoxNews: A tea party-backed candidate asked a Mississippi court on Thursday to declare him the winner of the June 24 Republican runoff against incumbent U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran or order a new election.
State Sen. Chris McDaniel sued Thursday in state court in his own home of Jones County. The Mississippi Supreme Court will appoint a special judge to handle the case.
Certified results of the June 24 runoff show Cochran defeated McDaniel by 7,667 votes. But McDaniel says his campaign found thousands of irregularities, including about 3,500 people who voted in the June 3 Democratic primary and June 24 runoff. Mississippi voters don't register by party, but such crossover voting is prohibited.
McDaniel campaign representatives spent weeks examining ballot boxes and other voting records. McDaniel said they found about 9,500 "irregular" votes and 2,275 "improperly cast" absentee ballots.
McDaniel began his challenge with a complaint to the Mississippi Republican Party executive committee on Aug. 4, asking the group to declare him the winner over Cochran.
State GOP chairman Joe Nosef said Aug. 6 that the committee would not consider the challenge because it did not have time to thoroughly examine the information McDaniel provided about alleged voting irregularities. Thursday marked the deadline to file a lawsuit challenging his loss.
State law says the general-election sample ballot must be given to local election officials by Sept. 10, which is 55 days before the Nov. 4 general election. While a court could order a new primary even after the general election, McDaniel campaign attorney Mitch Tyner has said he wants the dispute over the primary resolved in time to keep the general election on track.
From dirty Democrats in Texas to repulsive RINOs in Mississippi, enough is DAMN ENOUGH! One way or another, Cochran mustn't prevail, and the establishment must be made an example of. It's a matter of principle at this point, and that's what McDaniel is after so that this never happens again in Mississippi.
UPDATE: Looks like the judge wants the trial sooner than later, and McDaniel's legal team is raring to go!
Related links: Judge holds status hearing on Chris McDaniel's challenge to GOP Senate primary in MississippiMSNewsNow: Special appointed Judge Hollis McGehee said he will file a scheduling order for the Chris McDaniel vs. Thad Cochran trial by the end of this week.
The half hour conference hearing convened Wednesday morning in Jones County Circuit Court. McGehee said he expects the trial to begin no later than September 22, which is an earlier date than expected due to this being an unprecedented trial.
McGehee will send notices to 82 county clerks to preserve any election materials from the June 3 and 24 Republican primary elections, per the request of McDaniel's lawyer Mitch Tyner.
Any motions filed will be heard next Thursday, August 28 at 9:30 a.m. in Jones County Circuit Court. The Cochran team is expected to file a motion to dismiss the case, and the court said a response will be given by Tuesday, August 26.
Chris McDaniel election challenge hearing
