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Lawmaker: Sara Jane Olson Committed Voter Fraud

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Mar 24, 2009 7:17 pm US/Central

Lawmaker: Sara Jane Olson Committed Voter Fraud

Reporting
James Schugel
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ― State Representative Mary Kiffmeyer said she's disappointed in Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner because she has not looked into the possible voter fraud allegedly committed by Sara Jane Olson.

Olson came back to Minnesota last week after serving seven years in prison in California. She was sentenced for trying to blow-up police cars in Los Angeles in the 1970s and taking part in a bank robbery where a woman died.

Back then her name was Kathleen Soliah. She changed her name and was hiding in St. Paul for 24 years before being arrested. Olson got married and raised three daughters during that time.

When Olson came back to Minnesota, Kiffmeyer wrote to Ramsey County Attorney Gaertner asking her to look into possible voter fraud. Kiffmeyer believes looking into voter fraud sends a clear message to everyone.

"And yes, it will send a message that it is important, and it sends a message to those who are legitimate that the system is working to protect your legitimate votes, too," Kiffmeyer said Tuesday afternoon.

Kiffmeyer points to the recent election for the U.S. Senate between Al Franken and Norm Coleman. She said Minnesotans have seen how important every vote is and she believes no vote should ever be disrespected.

WCCO told Kiffmeyer that Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said she won't look into this case, again. Gaertner said she already did 10 years ago and found no voter fraud then.

Minnesota law says that you can change your name once you get married. In this case, Kathleen Soliah changed it to Sara Jane Olson; her marriage certificate shows it.

Gaertner said Olson registered to vote with that name in 1990 and voted with it in 1998. Because of that, she did not commit voter fraud, end of story.

"Allegations of voter fraud are investigated by this office and taken seriously. And if a crime has occurred, and we can prove it, we prosecute them. That wasn't the case here," Gaertner said.

Gaertner is not happy Kiffmeyer brought up the issue now. At the same time, Kiffmeyer is not happy the Gaertner won't investigate the matter.

Kiffmeyer said there is proof Olson committed voter fraud and said the issue is now a lack of follow-through by the Ramsey County Attorney.

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