Sorry, Charlie, it's time to exit

Defense attorneys say embattled Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White can mount a credible defense against the felony voting fraud charges he faces.
His personal life was in chaos, they could argue. And while there was sloppiness and stupidity, there was no criminal intent.
That might work.
But it’s one thing to win your case in court and another to face the court of public opinion.
And in the latter, Charlie White’s case doesn’t look so good.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what sort of political hay Democrats will be able to make of the state’s top election officer — a Republican — facing charges of election fraud.
That’s the sort of situation that gets the juices flowing for late night comedy show writers, let alone rival political parties.
So it’s time for Charlie to take one for his team.
There’s no need for him to resign at this point, despite the call for that action from some quarters.
But at the very least, he ought to place himself on unpaid administrative leave until the legal mess can be sorted out.
Handled properly, such a step might even enhance his ability to win his case in court.
So far, however, White has shown no such inclination, despite a serious nudge from the governor himself.
His failure to do so raises further questions about his judgment and reinforces a suspicion that this is a guy more focused on himself than upon any bigger issue for his party or the integrity of Hoosier elections.
And that, in itself, lends credibility to the very charges he faces. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]