Grand Old Police Blotter: What A Poindexter Edition

Why do patriotic Americans oppose programs like the Administration's Total Information Awareness (TIA) scheme? Because they know unpatriotic Republicans will get their hands on private information, and use it, not for the good of the country, but for partisan purposes and to consolidate power.

RICHMOND, Va. - The former executive director of Virginia's Republican Party was indicted Thursday on federal charges he eavesdropped on conference calls among Democratic legislators last year.

Edmund A. Matricardi III, 34, was accused of using a telephone number and access codes to listen in on the teleconferences.

He was charged with five counts involving the interception of electronic communications. Each count carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Matricardi resigned over the scandal but was later hired as operations director of the South Carolina Republican Party. On Thursday, after he was indicted, he resigned that post, too.

If history is any indication, Mr. Matricardi will be the recipient of a Bush pardon in January 2005.