Subsequent to his conviction, Judge-Executive Newsome cooperated with the government and received a sentence reduction recommendation under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. On March 16, 2004, he was sentenced to serve 26 months in prison.71 The following editorial, reprinted here in its entirety, presents a concise and eloquent statement of why the investigation and prosecution of electoral corruption are important law enforcement priorities of the Justice Department. Vote fraud sentencing sad, encouraging – by Susan Allen Tuesday’s sentencing in federal court of Knott County Judge-Executive Donnie Newsome and campaign worker Willard Smith on vote buying charges was both a sad and encouraging day for Eastern Kentucky. Sad the people of Knott County were effectively robbed of their voting rights by Newsome and others dolling out cash to buy a public office. Sad that, as Federal Judge Danny C. Reeves pointed out, some people in Knott and other counties think that elections are supposed to be bought and the only reason to go to the polls is to get their pay off. Sad those seeking public office in Knott County, and most assuredly in other counties, target poor, handicapped, The sentencing judge stated that had it not been for the prosecution’s recommendation for a downward departure, he was prepared to sentence Newsome to five years of imprisonment. 71 198