Daniels Encourages White to Step Down Until Charges Are Resolved

by Dalton MainIndiana Governor Mitch Daniels is calling on recently-indicted Secretary of State Charlie White to step down until the charges against him are resolved.White faces three counts of voter fraud and two counts of perjury for using his ex-wife’s address on his voter registration in the May primary, rather than his own address in a different precinct. White faces a theft charge for allegedly serving on the Fishers Town Council and drawing a salary after he moved out of the town. Further, he faces a fraud charge for allegedly lying under oath about his address on a home loan.In a statement released Thursday (see below), Daniels said the only appropriate thing for White to do is to step down until a verdict is reached. Daniels said he consulted with other elected officials and they have unanimously agreed that it would not be appropriate for White to serve as the state’s top elections official while contesting criminal charges.“This news is sad and regrettable, but the only course of honor is for Mr. White to step down from his duties, at least during the duration of these proceedings until a verdict is reached.  It would be neither credible nor appropriate for the state’s top elections official to continue to perform his duties while contesting criminal charges, some of them under the very laws the Secretary of State implements. I have consulted with each of the other statewide elected officials and our judgment about this is unanimous.”