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Grand Jury meets; Tate on docket
Grand Jury meets; Tate on docket
By Holly Hobbs
Times-Democrat Staff Writer
Possible new charges against former state Senate candidate Mark Tate were argued before a Loudoun grand jury Jan. 22 by special prosecutor Matt Britton, according to public court records.
This is the second time election fraud charges have been filed against Tate.
As of Jan. 22, he had not been indicted on the special prosecutor's complaints.
Tate, a Purcellville resident and Middleburg restaurateur, sought state office during the 2003 and 2007 Republican primaries. He lost both primaries, the second to Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-western Loudoun), who took office Jan. 9.
Two election fraud charges and nine perjury charges were brought against Tate just weeks before the 2007 Republican primary June 12.
These charges were dropped by Britton — the commonwealth's attorney for King George County — in mid-October. Britton cited the appearance of impropriety on behalf of the case's original prosecutor, Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Plowman (R-Loudoun), as a reason for dropping the charges.
Britton warned then that the charges weren't dropped for good, and in a few months there would be “a new presentation to the grand jury.”
Now, Britton has come back with nine possible charges of election fraud against Tate.
Britton said he would make no public comment on this case until a final decision was made by the courts.
“I don't know anything about it," Tate's attorney Edward MacMahon said. "This is the first time any of us have heard on this.”
MacMahon said the possible new charges against Tate were “ridiculous,” and if Tate was again charged, MacMahon would continue to be his legal representation.
Tate deferred comment to his attorney, who said “If they indict him...we'll do all we can to fight this.”
The county's Circuit Court Clerk's Office said any indictments could be handed down by the grand jury Jan. 23.
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
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