Secretary of State White is facing multiple felony charges, including voter fraud:

Judge to set time for White hearing:

WISH TV

Julian Grace

Updated: Apr 28, 2011 9:39 PM

A judge Thursday said he would set a deadline Friday for the Recount Commission to reconsider its decision on Secretary of State Charlie White's status.

The judge also denied a request by White's defense that the civil inquiry be put on hold until a criminal case regarding the same questions has run its course.

Secretary of State White is facing multiple felony charges, including voter fraud. Democrats appealed to a judge, saying White wasn’t eligible to be on the ballot in the first place. As such, Democrats contend, their candidate, Vop Osili, should be serving as secretary of state.

A judge sent the issue to the Recount Commission for their assessment, but Recount Commission Director Brad Skolnik was accused of not moving quickly enough to resolve accusations that White was ineligible to serve as secretary of state.

Earlier this month, Judge Louis Rosenberg ordered Skolnik to investigate White's voter registration quickly. Thursday, he called Skolnik to court to find out why that hadn't happened. The judge decided he would set a timeline, and will give the details Friday.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have pushed a bill that would allow Gov. Mitch Daniels to appoint a replacement for White if he's found guilty.

White has resisted calls from Gov. Mitch Daniels and others to step down, at least while the case against him is ongoing.

Indiana Democrats called attention to the address discrepancy after White voted in last May's Republican primary. They contend that White intentionally skirted the law to keep his seat on the Fishers Town Council after moving out of the district he represented.

After the Nov. 2 election, in which White beat Democrat Vop Osili by about 345,000 votes, Democrats filed a petition with the Indiana Recount Commission challenging White's eligibility. The panel voted 2-1 along party lines to dismiss their challenge on Dec. 12, and Democrats appealed the decision in Marion Circuit Court. Democrats want their candidate declared the winner.

In the separate criminal case, White was indicted March 3 on seven felony counts including voter fraud and perjury by a grand jury in Hamilton County, just outside Indianapolis. If convicted of a felony, he would have to resign.

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