New Docs Suggest Scott Walker Misled Press

[Ellipsis]

Source: PR Watch

The John Doe saga began unfolding in May of 2010, after Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Dan Bice followed a tip that a Walker staffer, Darlene Wink, had been posting partisan comments to news articles during work hours. In the months to come, the story would blossom, with prosecutors soon uncovering reams of evidence that Walker's County Executive staff were conducting campaign work on the taxpayer dime.

When the Journal Sentinel's Bice first asked questions about Wink's internet commenting, Walker's Chief of Staff, Tom Nardelli, immediately recognized they had more to fear than an investigation into comments on news articles. On May 13, 2010, Nardelli wrote:

"This could be extremely serious for us from the standpoint of bad new (sic), but potentially for her should there be an effort to seek charges," he wrote in the email, sent to both campaign and county staff -- and to Scott Walker himself.

"We may be looking at a resignation, as it appears there are many, many emails throughout the work day" (emphasis added).

Read more: http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/02/12398/was-walker-giving-us-whole-story

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Oh.... say it ain't so Desperado... say it ain't so John Doe.

[Berlum]

1. How Republicon is that?

[okaawhatever]

2. Two damaging portions in this paragraph:

However, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review of records shows that Walker had personally instructed staff to post comments to news articles, just weeks before Wink was caught for doing just that during the work day.

For example, on the afternoon of Friday, May 4, 2010, just one week before Wink was ousted for her online commenting -- which Walker would later describe as an unauthorized and isolated incident -- Walker urged his county staff and campaign to leave comments on a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story about his plan to privatize the airport.

"Someone should comment on the fact that the only way for the county to benefit from that success is to contract out operations," Walker wrote in an email. "Having a well performing airport increases the value that the county could receive." Thirty minutes later, a Walker volunteer, Brian Pierick, replied that he had posted a comment on the story under an alias, praising "Scott Walker's outstanding leadership." (Pierick would later be charged with two felonies for trying to entice a 17-year old into his van)

______________

There's the flat-out lying WTF on Walker telling staffers to post favorable comments about him (more examples in story), but the double OMG WTF for Walker's volunteer Brian Pierick who was charged with two felonies for trying to entire a 17 year old.

[hue]

3. Soo many allegations, not a single indictment, yet!!!

[Coyotl]

4. 6 People Indicted, 15 Felony Indictments, 6 Sentenced, 13 Immunity Deals

6 People Indicted, 15 Felony Indictments, 6 Sentenced
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Scott_Walker#6_People_Indicted.2C_15_Felony_Indictments.2C_6_Sentenced



Timothy Russell (former top aide, holding over eight positions including deputy chief of staff, to then Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker): charged with 2 felonies, and one misdemeanor related to embezzlement of veterans funds. Read the criminal complaint here. Russell was sentenced to "two years in prison and five years on probation for stealing more than $21,000 from a veterans organization Walker named him to lead."[30]

Brian Pierick (boyfriend of Timothy Russell): charged with 2 felonies, including child enticement and exposing sex organ and pubic area. Read the criminal complaint here. In February 2013 Pierick was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and a $2,100 fine after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.[31]

Kevin Kavanaugh (appointed by Walker as county veterans official): charged with 5 felonies related to embezzlement of veterans funds. Read the criminal complaint here. Kavanaugh was convicted by jury and was sentenced on December 7th, 2012 to two years in prison and two years of extended supervision.[32][33]

Kelly Rindfleisch (former top aide to then Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker): charged with 4 felonies relating to political fundraising while on the county payroll. Read the criminal complaint here. Her trial was set to begin the week of October 15, 2012 in Milwaukee County Court. On Monday, October 8, 2012 Rindfleisch’s lawyers subpoenaed the Governor to testify in her trial. The next day, news broke that Rindfleisch had reached a plea deal with Milwaukee prosecutors. News reports indicate that she will plead guilty to one felony count of misconduct in office in an attempt to avoid jail time.[34] Rindfleisch was in particular jeopardy, because she had been implicated in similar activities in the past and was granted immunity in an earlier “caucus scandal,” which resulted in sentences of jail time for more than one Wisconsin legislator and the disbanding of partisan political caucuses in the state legislature in 2001. Rindfleisch is scheduled to be in court on Thursday, October 11 for a judge to decide on the plea deal. The trial is cancelled, so Walker will no longer have to testify.[34] The plea deal can be accessed here. She entered the guilty plea and was convicted of one of the felony counts. On November 19, 2012 she was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation on a single felony count of misconduct in office.[35][36]

Darlene Wink (former aide to then Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker): pleaded guilty to 2 unclassified misdemeanors as part of a plea deal that she made with the prosecutors related to political fundraising while on the county payroll. Read the complaint here. Her sentencing hearing has been delayed several times to ensure her full cooperation in other investigations. [37] In January 2013 Wink was sentenced to a year's probation, 50 hours of community service and $1,000 in fines.[38]

William Gardner (President and CEO of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad): pleaded guilty to 2 felony charges relating to campaign finance violations read the criminal complaint here. Gardner pleaded guilty to felony violations of Wisconsin campaign law in April of 2011. Gardner tried to convince prosecutors that his $60,000 in illegal contributions, which he funneled through staff and girlfriends, was an innocent mistake, except he had done the same thing the previous year.[39] Gardner was sentenced to 2 years probation and 50 hours of community service. [40]

===================

Immunity Deals

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on September 23, 2011 that former Appeals Court Judge Neal Nettesheim, who is overseeing the investigation, acknowledged that he had granted immunity to Walker's Press Secretary, Cullen Werwie, and a number of other individuals. Werwie joined Walker's campaign after the September 2010 primary and stayed on when Walker was sworn in as governor. Werwie had no comment when the story broke. [54] Walker denied any knowledge of the investigation telling a Wisconsin news channel, "We don't know what exactly is involved there until we know any more."[21] The 13th person to be granted immunity, Fran McLaughlin, was announced May 31, 2012.[55] She served as Walker's spokeswoman while he was Milwaukee County executive, and as his communications director from 2007 to 2010.

Full List of People Granted Immunity From Court Records[56]

Cullen Werwie: Scott Walker's Current Press Secretary
Fran McLaughlin: Scott Walker's Former Press Secretary
David Halbrooks: Milwaukee attorney with Democratic ties who specializes in procurement
Rose Ann Dieck: retired teacher and Milwaukee County Republican party activist
Suzanne Immel: donor to Scott Walker: $500
Timothy Karp: Vice President of finance for Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Dale Thomas: donor to Scott Walker: $4,900 (Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Employee)
David Hackbarth: donor to Scott Walker: $4,900 (Wisconsin and Southern railroad employee)
James Lombard: donor to Scott Walker: $5,000 (Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Employee)
Bernard Meighan: donor to Scott Walker: $5,000. (Railroad Superintendent for Maintenance)
Steven Beske: donor to Scott Walker: $5,000 (Railroad Employee)
Gilbert Loberg:donor to Scott Walker: $5,000 ( Railroad Accountant)
Kenneth Lucht: donor to Scott Walker: $5,000 (Government Relations specialist for the Railroad)

[hue]

6. I'm talking about Wanker himself! Yeah a lot took the rap for him.

[sakabatou]

5. Not surprised

[Blue Owl]

7. He better come to his senses...

n/t