Wis. gov hopes secret investigation finally ends (Walker)

[hue]

Source: KTUV.com (AP)


The Associated Press

MADISON, Wis.

Gov. Scott Walker says he hopes Milwaukee County prosecutors' secret probe into his former county associates and campaign donors ends this week.

The probe began in 2010 during Walker's stint as Milwaukee County executive. Three former aides, a donor and a former appointee have been charged with crimes ranging from misconduct in office to theft.
The only one who hasn't been convicted is former aide Timothy Russell. He plans to enter a plea agreement Thursday to settle a felony embezzlement case.

Prosecutors haven't accused Walker of any wrongdoing. During a question-and-answer period with the audience at a Wisconsin Dairy Association conference in Madison on Tuesday, Walker said he hopes the investigation will end this week.

Read more: http://www.ktvu.com/ap/ap/crime/wis-gov-hopes-secret-investigation-finally-ends/nTGp8/

---

BWAHAHAHA!

[Squinch]

1. I hope to find a stack of hundreds in my sock drawer.

But that ain't going to happen either.

[heaven05]

2. how

is this person walker, with all of these close associates charged, escaping? I smell something stinky here.

[Bjorn Against]

5. There is still a good chance he will be charged

The prosecution recently pointed a finger his direction publically for the first time during the sentencing hearing for one of his underlings. These types of investigations are often very slow but Walker still has a great deal to worry about and that worrying will not end this week, he may try to pretend it is over but that does not mean it is over.

[SWTORFanatic]

3. One of three reasons he is saying this

He thinks he will be charged or implicated soon and wants to muddy the waters and discredit the DA. His "I am not a crook" moment

OR

He thinks that he won't be charged (any time soon) and will then try to discredit the investigation "look they haven't charged me with any wrongdoing" (of course he will say it in a slicker manner)

OR

He bought off his deputy chief of staff Tim Russell to take the fall for him

[hue]

4. Mon. (yesterday) Russell reached a plea deal with prosecutors--so he'll prob. "talk".

[mzteris]

6. I hope it ends, too.

And the no longer secret investigation is over. I hope the very open and public investigation, trial, judgement, and sentencing begin.

The only thing that would make me happier than seeing Walker do the perp walk is Cheney or one of his cabal who destroyed this whole country. Or maybe the Koch brothers. Or - hey! - maybe they're next? Wouldn't that be awesome!

Oh so many people I would love to see pay for their crimes against the state/union/humanity. . .

[heaven05]

8. +10000

[mojowork_n]

7. Cross-posting from reply in Wisconsin Group

The local fish wrap summed up their account of the most recent conviction with this:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/plea-deal-reached-in-embezzlement-case-against-former-walker-aide-1i7q2d3-180926281.html

Russell transferred money from the nonprofit, the Heritage Guard Preservation Society, to his personal accounts and used it for Caribbean and Hawaiian vacations, according to a criminal complaint. He's also charged with stealing money from campaign accounts of two Milwaukee County Board candidates.

Russell also has been named as having set up a secret computer system in the county executive's office that prosecutors say was used for communication between Walker's county staff and staff for his successful 2010 campaign for governor. He has not been charged in connection with that, however.

He faced more than 14 years in jail and fines of up to $45,000 on two felony counts and one misdemeanor.

As far as I know, Wisconsin has fairly clear and strong requirements for open records. So that politicians can be held accountable for their exercise of authority.

Just parsing from that middle paragraph:

1.) That would be the same 'secret computer system' that Walker told Russell to shut down, in this email:



2.) So maybe the prosecutors didn't charge Russell for his role in setting up the network, because the responsibility for it lies.....

[SWTORFanatic]

9. Not on your life Scooter

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wisconsin/judge-says-john-doe-investigation-involving-former-aides-of-gov-scott-walker-remains-open

MADISON (AP) - The judge overseeing the investigation into former aides of Gov. Scott Walker says the probe remains open.

Walker said on Tuesday that he hoped the so-called "John Doe" investigation would end as early as this week.

But retired Waukesha County Judge Neal Nettesheim told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from his home Wednesday "that would be pure conjecture."

Nettesheim says, "The John Doe is not completed. It is still open."

The investigation began in May 2010 and has resulted in six people being charged with crimes and four convictions. One person, Tim Russell, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in his felony embezzlement case and has a plea hearing set for Thursday.

Another former Walker aide Darlene Wink has a Jan. 10 sentencing hearing.