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The man at the center of a state investigation of the Orlando mayor's election accused the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Saturday of trying to stifle votes in the black community. Ezzie Thomas, who has remained largely silent since he was accused four months ago of manipulating absentee ballots, said that elderly voters from Orlando's west side are scared to cast ballots in the fall elections since being questioned by FDLE agents. He said the agency is working for Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, who is trying to make sure his brother President Bush wins re-election in November. Steve Brady, the FDLE's regional legal adviser, denied the agency's officers were trying to intimidate voters or had used heavy-handed tactics. All of the interviews were recorded, he said, and tapes will become a matter of public record when the investigation is concluded. [more]