Lugar fights back on questions about residency
(CNN) – Republican Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana responded Friday to recent reports that show he doesn’t live in the state he’s been representing for more than 35 years.
The longtime senator told CNN he maintains a residence for “political purposes” in Indianapolis but doesn’t live at the physical address-staying in hotels around the state, instead.
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Lugar pointed to a loophole in Indiana law that protects his residency status while he lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area.
According to the state’s constitution, an absent individual does not lose residence as long as he or she is away “on the business of the State of Indiana or the United States.”
The longtime senator listed his voting address as 3200 Highwoods Court in Indianapolis but said his actual home is located in McLean, Virginia–a Washington suburb.
According to a recent report by The Daily Caller, a conservative news website, the woman who owns the house at the Indiana address said she knew that Lugar had built the home, but she was not aware he had been voting from that address.
The Daily Caller wrote the story after an Indiana tea party supporter and investigator began looking into Lugar’s residency situation.
Responding to the article, Lugar deemed the report “unfair.”
"It's a, I think a very unfair attack…because this is purely the law, two attorneys general have ruled that, specifically so that there was never any ambiguity for the last 36 years," he said.
The senator served as mayor of Indianapolis from 1968-1975, according to his website. He was elected to the Senate in 1976.
Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division, said as long as an individual establishes residency before he or she leaves the state for work, the law permits that person to remain a resident, no matter how long that person is gone.
As for voting standards, King said voters must list a residence when they first register to vote, but they’re not required to show proof of residence.
If they move, they’re directed to indicate a change of address but, again, not required to prove the change.
- CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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Dick Lugar , John McCain and Orrin Hatch need to retire or open a funeral home.
The race has narrowed between 1 Honest, Extremely Intelligent, HardWorking, Productive, Normal (real) American, Doctor, ......... and 3 Chiksa(s).
What about all the COLLEGE KIDS who can't vote in the State they are attending college. Explain that to me someone, please explain.
Voter fraud? Repubs/teabaggers continue to eat their own.
Wow, what a lugar. Neocons sure screw their people over.
Why not offer this residence for use by the Poor Citizens of your state?
Again Republicans capitalizing on loopholes to serve self interest. This Sen has served for 36yrs! Is it a lifetime seat? Why bother lifetime dictators all over the World if our own laws are soo flawed that one can serve longtime at such important political seat. In other words,he was a Senator couple of years before I was born and still he is in office 33yrs later.
This may not be illegal, it is definitely unethical. It is common to Republicans that make too much on morals to violate common moral standards easily. They are bunch of hypocrites, anyway.
Fred (Gordon) Johnston, formerly of Indpls, used to coach Dick Lugar boys in little league in the Indpls area many years ago. I'm afraid Lugar is a Bilderberg Group New World Order sellout, however, so he must be defeated before the NWO grasp tightens even more.
Boy that don't seem to be right. He doesn't even live In Indiana since the 1950 and you can run for Public office. And the place he said where he Residency Is he don't even own. Now I think the Tea Party Is a bunch Of Crap ,but if he hasn't live In Indiana for sixty two years. Than just ask me how Is he suppose to know what going on here. No wonder the Republican don't care what happen to the state the are running In.
And we want to have every one show a photo ID because someone is committing voter fraud. Who said that?
A wonderful example of someone not knowing the people he represents. Staying in hotels around Indiana! Give me a break. And this is what we want in our Congress?
So somebody else owns the house that he lists as his residence for voting purposes?
I think, it is time to impose Term Limits on Congress and senate. And Pass Anti-Lobby Laws. Obama, please do this in second term. Obama2012.
The Tea Party continues their proud tradition of destroying America one reasonable person at a time
by attacking their own party.
Well done, nutbags!
Same thing the flip flopper was doing. He had a house in another state and supposedly lived in one of his (I have been in the military) son's basement to claim residency in Massachusetts.
Sorry that should have read (I have NEVER been in the military) son's