Student Recants Claim He Voted Four Times

M I L W A U K E E, Nov. 15, 2000 -- A college student who said on nationaltelevision that he voted four times on Election Day has admittedthat he lied.

The 18-year-old Marquette University freshman from Hudson, Wis.,told ABC News’ “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings” on Monday that he filled out four separate ballots using his own name.

The student appeared on local television along with his lawyerLaura Arbuckle, who read a statement today acknowledging thathe had lied and retracting his original statement. The student didnot speak or identify himself, and Arbuckle would not identify him.

He was identified as Rob Bosworth on the Milwaukee JournalSentinel’s Web site.

Arbuckle said the student had lied after witnessing what hedescribed as opportunities for fraud at a polling place.

“In his zest to voice his frustration regarding possible voterfraud, he crossed the line by making a direct statement that he hadvoted on more than one occasion on election day. This statement wasuntrue,” Arbuckle said.

Ballot Check Verifies Confession

“Caught up in the emotion of the moment, he did not stop tothink of the ramifications which his statements carried ... Heterribly regrets his comments.”

Deputy District Attorney Robert Donohoo said a ballot checkverified the student’s confession.

Wisconsin was one of the closest states in the presidentialcontest. According to unofficial election night results, Al Goredefeated George W. Bush by about 6,000 votes.

Donohoo’s office is investigating other local claims of voterfraud, including allegations that a Democratic activist gavehomeless people cigarettes in exchange for votes and reports thatother students had voted more than once.

The Marquette Tribune, Marquette University’s student newspaper,surveyed 1,000 students and said it found that 174 admitted votingmore than once. Under Wisconsin law, deliberate double-voting ispunishable by up to four and a half years in prison and a $10,000fine.

The student did not return a message left at his home today.

Jeffrey Schneider, a spokesman for ABC News, said the networkplanned to issue a clarification.