Walkergate/ Corruption, Embezzlement, Sleaze
Remember these news items?----
May 2010: Walker staffer Darlene Wink abruptly quit after it was publicly disclosed that during her work hours she had been posting numerous Web comments (using a pseudonym) that praised Walker or bashed his opponents.
July 2011: William Gardner, president and CEO of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. and a major donor to Gov. Scott Walker, was convicted of two felony violations of campaign finance laws and sentenced to two years probation. He admitted that he’d exceeded campaign contribution limits in support of Walker and laundered additional campaign contributions through employees and associates.
Dec. 2011: Andrew P. Jensen Jr., a Milwaukee-area commercial real estate broker (the Boerke Company) was arrested for refusing to cooperate with law enforcement officials in an ongoing investigation into Gov. Walker’s current and past aides. He was released from custody the next day, but reportedly ordered to come back on Jan. 25. A profile on the company’s web site lists Jensen’s biggest client as Michael Best & Friedrich, a major law firm with ties to Walker and Republican leadership.
And now Thursday's news (Journal Sentinel): Three individuals—including a former top aide to Gov. Scot Walker, were charged Thursday with felonies as part of the ongoing John Doe investigation into Walker staffers. The three: Tim Russell, Brian Pierick, Kevin Kavanaugh.
Read or watch the news reports. These associates of Walker's are being charged with some heinous crimes.
Needless to say, people are talking about it and the Internet is buzzing, like this:
Blue Cheddar: Revelations on Walkergate: 3 Former Scott Walker Aides Charged For Theft, Fraud, Child Enticement
Jake's Economic TA Funhouse: Today's Walkergate Questions and Connections
Blogging Blue: Longtime Aide to Scott Walker Charged With 2 Felony Counts of Embezzlement
The Political Environment: Walker Needs To Explain His Repeated Trust In Tim Russell
There are also several postings on Daily Kos about these latest developments and charges, including this one: New Walkergate Charges: The Short Version.
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Update
Here are two more Journal Sentinel articles published on Jan. 6:
1. Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds
"Transferring control of funds for an annual veterans event - from an American Legion Post to an organization run by then-County Executive Scott Walker's aide Tim Russell - was ordered by Walker in October 2009, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday against Russell. Walker made the move after the Alonzo Cudworth American Legion Post No. 23 had performed what prosecutors now say was "exemplary" work in managing the books of Operation Freedom, a recurring event honoring veterans held at the Milwaukee County Zoo." To read more, click here
2. Embezzlement probe also leads to child sex charges
"The secret John Doe investigation into embezzlement of funds intended for veterans also produced a jarring unrelated sex crime case against the domestic partner of a former top aide to Gov. Scott Walker." To read more, click here
