20) Phone Jamming

2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_New_Hampshire_Senate_election_phone_jamming_scandal

The 2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal involves the use of a telemarketing firm hired by that state's Republican Party (NHGOP) for election tampering.

During that state's 2002 election for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Robert C. Smith, the NHGOP hired GOP Marketplace, based in Northern Virginia, to jam another phone bank being used by the state Democratic Party and the firefighters' union for efforts to turn out voters on behalf of then-governor Jeanne Shaheen on Election Day. John E. Sununu, the Republican candidate, won a narrow victory.

Phone Jamming records Point to White House

www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1829056

By LARRY MARGASAK

WASHINGTON Apr 11, 2006 (AP)— Republican officials describe the two-dozen calls to the White House around Election Day 2002 as normal conversations about a close Senate race in New Hampshire.

...The phone-jamming operation has led to three federal convictions and a pending indictment. Prosecutors have not raised questions in court about the White House conversations but records of the calls were available to them as criminal court exhibits.

The records show that Republican campaign operative James Tobin, who recently was convicted in the case, made two dozen calls to the White House within a three-day period around Election Day 2002 as the jamming operation was finalized, carried out and then abruptly shut down.

Phone Jamming 101: Timeline

www.senatemajority.com/node/236

Editor’s Note: These are just a few of the dozens of entries in the timeline, a highly worthwhile read…

Mid/Late October 2002: New Hampshire Republican State Committee (NHRSC) Executive Director Charles McGee comes up with idea to jam Democratic Party phone lines on Election Day.

Morning of November 5, 2002 (Election Day): Sean Hansen's Mylo Enterprises places more than 800 hang-up calls to the six phone numbers, essentially jamming them for more than 2 hours Election Day morning.

May 2003: FBI begins investigation of alleged phone jamming.

July 2004: Charles McGee enters plea agreement.

March 2005: Charles McGee sentenced to 7 month prison term, 2 years supervised release, $2000 fine. U.S. District Court recommends McGee serve his 7-month sentence in minimum security prison, but McGee is instead remanded to MDC Brooklyn, a maximum security facility in Brooklyn, NY.

June 3-4, 2006: Charles McGee invites fellow Republicans to attend his two-day GOP Campaign school, a "nuts and bolts boot camp"

November 27, 2006: NHDP phone jamming civil suit scheduled to commence in Hillsborough Superior Court (Manchester, NH)