VOTE-COUPON PROBE IS OVER

The federal government spent an awfully long time investigating allegations that voters were given coupons worth $1 in merchandise at a Charleston convenience store in exchange for their votes during the 1996 general election.

The two-year probe finally ended last week in a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge by the only person ultimately accused of any wrongdoing. The plea brought a prompt announcement by the U.S. attorney that no additional charges will be brought and the investigation is considered closed.

That announcement came only after a longtime lawmaker -- state Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid -- was dragged through the coals by innuendoes that grew out of the longstanding investigation by the FBI. Copeland took the bulk of the criticism because it was one of his campaign workers who was finally charged.

Copeland wasn't even approached by the FBI about the matter until the 1998 legislative session ended in May, long after the investigation was begun. Copeland said the agent who interviewed him was apologetic and told him the government wanted to put the matter to rest.

What will never be known is why it took so long for the government to put the matter to rest and finally clear his name. That could have been done long ago had the government handled the matter in a more timely fashion. We do know that pressure was put on the Justice Department by some key federal legislators, including U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, to either bring charges or end the investigation. It may well have been that pressure that concluded the affair.