(Host) Brattleboro voters approved a resolution calling for President Bush and Vice President Cheney to be indicted for crimes relating to the War in Iraq.
VPR’s Susan Keese has that story.
(Keese) The article passed by a relatively slim 200-vote margin. But Kurt Daims, who led the move to get it on the ballot, says it’s already accomplished a lot.
(Daims) "The indictment resolution has been politically very effective even before it’s come into legal effect. I mean if you see all the press we’re getting, it’s almost done its job already."
(Keese) The article asks the selectboard to instruct the town attorney to draft indictments against the president and vice president. It calls for Brattleboro police to then arrest Bush and Cheney if they ever come to town.
Brattleboro town attorney Robert Fisher says he has no authority to indict anyone.
(Fisher) "I think this was an attempt in an advisory vote to ratchet up the political pressure against the Bush administration. Even though we may not have the power to do anything about it, it reflects the sentiment of the voters."
(Keese) Standing outside the polls holding up a sign on Tuesday, Daims called himself a patriot.
(Daims) "And I have letters from dozens of people around the country saying yeah, go for it. You’ve inspired me to reawaken my patriotism and try to save the country from Mr. Bush."
(Keese) Town officials and Daims have received a lot of angry letters too, from people promising to boycott Vermont in the future.
(Keese) Brattleboro resident Martha O’Connor, who defeated incumbent Audrey Garfield for a seat on the selectboard, opposed the resolution.
(O’Connor) "I think people are laughing at us. If it was something that could do something and not just be symbolic, fine. But this can’t do anything."
Voters in the town of Marlboro approved a similar resolution Tuesday.
For VPR News, I’m Susan Keese.