Judge Who Halted Walker Dark Money Criminal Probe Attended Koch-Backed Junkets

[Ellipsis]

Source: The Progressive

The federal judge who ordered a halt to Wisconsin's "John Doe" criminal investigation into spending during the 2011 and 2012 recall elections has regularly attended all-expenses paid "judicial junkets" funded by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and other ideological and corporate interests.

On May 6, federal District Court Judge Rudolph Randa blocked an ongoing John Doe criminal probe into allegedly illegal coordination between nonprofit groups like Wisconsin Club for Growth, which spent $9.1 million on electoral ads during Wisconsin's recall elections, and the recall campaigns of Governor Scott Walker and state senators. John Doe investigations are similar to grand jury investigations, and Wisconsin Club for Growth -- and its director, Eric O'Keefe, a longtime compatriot of the Koch brothers -- asked the federal court to stop the probe, alleging it violated their "free speech" rights.

Judge Randa sided with O'Keefe, and also ordered prosecutors to destroy all evidence gathered in the investigation, an extraordinary edict in a criminal case made even more astounding by the fact that it came in the context of a preliminary injunction. The Seventh Circuit has blocked this part of his ruling; an appeal of the remainder of his decision is pending.

An analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy shows that Judge Randa attended privately-funded, all-expenses-paid judicial seminars put on by George Mason University in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, according to publicly-available financial disclosure forms. (The 2013 disclosure form has been requested but has not yet been publicly posted).

Read more: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/05/187710/federal-judge-who-halted-walker-dark-money-criminal-probe-attended-koch-backed

---

Conflict of interest much?

[Plucketeer]

1. Great to hear it's exposed

But sadly - it's no great surprise.

[billhicks76]

31. Impeachment?

Can this judge be removed? Democrats should never have approved either Bushes judge nominations.

[Scarsdale]

43. Candidate

What I find shocking is that with all this money floating around, they could not find a better candidate than rat-faced, cross-eyed Walker. He said he will be going to college to earn a degree!! WHAT?

[billhicks76]

46. Hubris

We have allowed them to get away with so much they don't care how bad it looks anymore as they are laughing at us all the way and not even behind closed doors any longer.

[dogknob]

48. I'd hardly call an article in The Progressive 'exposed.'

If it ain't in the MSM, it doesn't exist except to make us mad.

[SoapBox]

2. You're real fair and unbiased, Rudy!

Not.

And his ruling AND ties to KKKoch activities, should make the investigation even broader!

[Z_California]

42. And we just learned in another thread

that Walker's attorney's wife (Biskupic) is Judge Randa's judicial assistant!

The corruption runs very deep. Time to clean house.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Corruption. nt

[pscot]

32. Bold, bare faced corruption

They've been getting away with it

[MrMickeysMom]

4. Conflict of Interest???

Only while we're alive…

[hue]

5. Yawn! This is no surprise to me. S#!t happens like this in WI every day.

Randa has quite a history of truly evil doings.
He was appointed by George H. W. Bush to become a federal district judge.
For example, he wrongly convicted a Democratic state government worker, Georgia Thompson to prison. Her conviction was overturned by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in IL and She was released from prison.

His history shows he is one of the long standing RW "good ol' boys".

[tofuandbeer]

6. This to me, means that the Kochs are putting a lot

into making sure Scott Walker succeeds. It sounds like their walking on thin ice, though.

[QuestForSense]

7. His ruling to destroy all evidence in a criminal case is dirty on its face.

He should be removed from the bench. Where is the hue and cry?

[The Wizard]

20. Evidence tampering is a crime

And he knows it. Life in prison and no contact with the outside world.

[stuartsdesk1]

8. Why Surprised? Judge Randa Wrote the Rules for the US Judicial Conference - Then He "Enjoyed"

Last edited Wed May 28, 2014, 10:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Is anyone surprised that Judge Rudy Randa had a good time at various "US Judicial Conferences", organized by George Mason University and funded by the Koch Brothers and their front organizations?

Rudy wrote the rules himself. Quoting from Wikipedia ("Rudolph T. Randa, May 27, 2014)

"In 2002, Randa was appointed by Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to serve on the Codes of Conduct Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference. He served on the Codes of Conduct Committee until 2008."

So, is anyone surprised that Judge Randa went to these conferences, expenses paid by right wing organizations and had a good time?

Just be sure to OBEY THE RULES Rudy.

For a somewhat lighter take on the Koch Brothers please see

http://www.stuartsdesk.com

[Ellipsis]

10. No other federal district judges in Wisconsin attended the privately-funded George Mason seminars

...according to the Center for Media and Democracy's review of publicly available financial disclosure documents.

[TygrBright]

9. Gosh, REALLY?!? I'm just astounded! Not... n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

11. I'd like to see this bastard impeached

But that can only be done if Democrats get out and vote in November to end the dominance of the House by corrupt Republicans.

[Andy823]

13. Exactly

Voting is the only way to get change, no matter if it's a local, state, or national office, if we don't get out and vote, we won't see change.

It's so obvious that this judge needs to go, but if the voters don't take their state back from the republicans, it just won't happen.

[Jack Rabbit]

18. This is a federal judge. He has to be removed by Congress

Meaning the House has to vote to impeach before anything can happen.

Otherwise, on all levels, a corrupt Democrat is probably better than a corrupt Republican (at least no worse). I hate to put it that cynically, but it's true.

[Cal33]

47. I wonder if Nancy Pelosi is still against impeachments.

[CanonRay]

12. He should resign immediately

[freshwest]

36. His Koch owners won't let him, his priorities differ from public servants. He serves Kochs.

That is the primary focus of the GOP, Tea Party and the Libertarians.

Their allegiance is not to the voters, but to private interests. Since money equals speech to them, the voters mean nothing, nor does OUR government.

The government is just their current venue to steal from 'the sheeple.' Don't expect integrity from a person who has no respect for others.

[DeSwiss]

14. CREW?

- Looks like they'll need to update their Most Corrupt page

K&R

[center]NO ONE'S HAPPY ABOUT THIS JUDGE



[/center]

[mountain grammy]

15. They don't even try to hide the corruption any more

because John Roberts says it doesn't exist, like I wish he didn't.

[watoos]

17. That's why this is sickening

even when they get caught it doesn't matter. I was told back in the 60's when going to college that there are 2 systems of justice, one for the rich, one for the poor, nothing has changed or will change until the rich start going to jail. Good luck with that.

[liberal N proud]

16. All the justice money can buy!

[sakabatou]

19. What a surprise

[Enthusiast]

21. Corruption from sea to shining sea.

Now it's right in your face.

[tclambert]

26. The Supreme Court says big corporate money doesn't cause corruption . . .

Last edited Wed May 28, 2014, 04:21 PM - Edit history (1)

but I suspect they were paid to say that.

[Ikonoklast]

44. "Shocked! Shocked, to find gambling going on here...!" - The Honorable John Roberts.

[november3rd]

22. Of course

Everybody's on the take, and the Kochs' are the hands they're feeding from.

[El Shaman]

23. Judge Randa:

big time 'ho' !!And where does the Mrs. sit on this.

[El Shaman]

24. He cute thou!!

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/05/11/3436347/meet-the-republican-judge-fighting-to-bail-scott-walker-out-of-a-criminal-investigation/

[QuestForSense]

38. Looks like he's related to the Mustelidae family.

He looks exactly like the weasel he is.

[Uncle Joe]

25. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Ellipsis.

[Scuba]

27. Corrupt Governor, corrupt legislature, corrupt courts - welcome to Wisconsin.

[burrowowl]

28. SHAME!!!!!!!!!

on this Judge, he should be impeached!

[blkmusclmachine]

29. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Cha]

30. I hope this blows back in his corrupt kochroach face.

[cascadiance]

33. Walker and his crowd are too koch'd up!...

[McCamy Taylor]

34. Impeachment!

[AAO]

35. Wouldn't it be nice

If upon a critical mass over some 10-15 million people wished ill on someone at the exact instant that person would vaporize with nothing left but a sour smell and a cloud of dust?

I thought so...

[Ellipsis]

37. Thank you all for the recs and kicks!!!!! wow.

Last edited Wed May 28, 2014, 07:20 AM - Edit history (1)

[Gothmog]

39. This judge has a conflict of interest

The court of appeals should remove this idiot

[hue]

41. The Court of Appeals has quite a history w/Rudy Randa.

Randa should NOT be able to get away with this!! But, this IS Mordor/Wisconsin...

[barbtries]

40. so much corruption

so obvious. how is it legal. aargh.

[Zambero]

45. Sounds like a charter member of the Scalia-Thomas school of impunity

Conflicts of interest don't exist in this alternative universe. The letter of the law will be applied solely to those whose actions and beliefs run contrary to your own ideology. And using one's own judicial standing can and will be used as a means of insulation from any consequence that might ensue.