Two more ex-Walker aides charged in John Doe: (Updated with steak tartare from John Nichols)

[Ellipsis]

Last edited Thu Jan 26, 2012, 11:06 PM - Edit history (14)

Two more former Walker aides have been charged with crimes in the ongoing John Doe investigation.

Both worked for Gov. Scott Walker while he was serving as Milwaukee County Executive, and both are accused of fundraising activities while at their taxpayer-funded day jobs.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said Thursday that Kelly Rindfleisch, the former deputy chief of staff for Walker who also worked as a fundraiser for then lieutenant governor candidate Brett Davis. She is charged with four felony counts of misconduct in public office.

Prosecutors say Rindfleisch spent "significant time" doing political campaign work.

"In the course of the investigation it was learned that a private email network was established and operated out of the County Executive's office and that private network was used to communicate both political campaign and government work related information to select individuals," prosecutors wrote in the release announcing charges.

Also charged was Darlene Wink, the Walker staffer who resigned last year after admitting to posting numerous pro-Walker political comments online while working in the county executive's office. Wink was charged with two misdemeanor counts of political solicitation by public employee.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/on-politics/on-politics-two-more-ex-walker-aides-charged-in-john/article_0d64606e-4835-11e1-b461-001871e3ce6c.html







“We cannot afford another story like this one,” Walker wrote to Timothy Russell, his longtime aide and adviser. “No one can give them any reason to do another story. That means no laptops, no websites, no time away during the work day, etc.”

That last part is pretty funny. Walker is more concerned with the press doing stories about improprieties than the actual legal issues involved. Incidentally, Tim Russell, the aide who he wrote that email to, has also been arrested and charged with theft.

These crimes – doing campaign work on government time – are pretty low on the totem pole as far as I’m concerned. But what does emerge here is that Walker surrounded himself throughout his political career with staffers and aides who were perfectly willing to break the law to achieve their ends, be they the promotion of the candidate all the way up to embezzling campaign funds for their own personal use. This is at least the fifth criminal indictment in the John Doe investigation. The Walker sphere of influence, viewed in this context, looks more like a gang. And if you look at how he skirted the law to get the signature anti-union legislation passed, that description takes on more resonance. The wanton disregard for the law shows up in how he governs.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/01/26/more-arrests-in-walker-john-doe-investigation/





Also charged was Darlene Wink, the Walker staffer who resigned last year after admitting to posting numerous pro-Walker political comments online while working in the county executive’s office. Wink was charged with two misdemeanor counts of political solicitation by public employee.


According to the criminal complaint, Wink, Walker’s constituent services manager, exchanged numerous campaign-related messages with top Walker campaign staffers, including Joe Fadness, operations manager for Friends of Scott Walker, as well as Reince Preibus, then Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman and now head of the Republican National Committee. She also communicated frequently while at her county job with the officials from the Republican Party of Milwaukee County, prosecutors allege.

The complaint reveals that Fadness was among those testifying in the John Doe investigation. Other witnesses include Rose Ann Dieck, membership chairperson for the Milwaukee County Republicans, who has received immunity from prosecution. Among the events Wink allegedly arranged while working for Milwaukee County was a birthday fundraiser for Walker on Nov. 6, 2009. The $42-a-plate dinner offered photographs with "Wisconsin’s next governor" for donors giving between $100 and $1,000.

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/two-more-ex-walker-aides-charged-in-investigation/article_b28fad16-4838-11e1-aaf5-001871e3ce6c.html





WI John Doe Probe: What did Walker Know? When DId He Know It?
John Nichols on January 26, 2012 - 4:31pm ET

Just hours after he delivered a State of the State address that he hoped would set the tone for his campaign to avert a recall election threat, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was hit with exactly the sort of news that embattled politicians fear most.

Two former aides to Walker -- one of whom was in the employ of his campaign until just days ago -- have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors in the ongoing "John Doe" investigation of wrongdoing by aides, political allies and campaign donors with links to the embattled governor.

(snip)

The aides charged Thursday were, according to Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, engaged in fund-raising activities and other political work while working on the staff of Walker when he served as .

Chisholm explains in a 57-page complaint (link to complaint pdf in article) that Russell and the newly-indicted aides established a "secret e-mail system available to and used by select 'insider' staffers for both official and unofficial business." That system was built around a wireless router that was kept in an armoire in the office of Walker's deputy chief of staff' -- just a few feet from Walker's office. It's existence was "never disclosed to county employees outside a closely held group within the Walker administration."

http://www.thenation.com/blog/165896/wi-john-doe-probe-what-did-walker-know-when-did-he-know-it

[Scuba]

1. The Union employees at the Graybar Hotel look forward to serving the Guv and his lackeys.

[postulater]

2. This is getting interesting.

Getting closer to Walker.

"a private email network was established and operated out of the County Executive's office and that private network was used to communicate both political campaign and government work related information to select individuals"

[FreakinDJ]

3. Tis the Season for "Falling on Swords"

these people are so connected to Koch Industries that the proverbial "Falling on Swords" for the Koch Bros. political lackey ensures a position within Koch Industries

[N7Shepard]

4. Hopefully they get long prison terms and those convince them to play ball and flip on Scotty boy

[Ellipsis]

5. “We cannot afford another story like this one,” Walker wrote to Timothy Russell,...

“We cannot afford another story like this one,” Walker wrote to Timothy Russell, his longtime aide and adviser. “No one can give them any reason to do another story. That means no laptops, no websites, no time away during the work day, etc.”

That last part is pretty funny. Walker is more concerned with the press doing stories about improprieties than the actual legal issues involved. Incidentally, Tim Russell, the aide who he wrote that email to, has also been arrested and charged with theft.

These crimes – doing campaign work on government time – are pretty low on the totem pole as far as I’m concerned. But what does emerge here is that Walker surrounded himself throughout his political career with staffers and aides who were perfectly willing to break the law to achieve their ends, be they the promotion of the candidate all the way up to embezzling campaign funds for their own personal use. This is at least the fifth criminal indictment in the John Doe investigation. The Walker sphere of influence, viewed in this context, looks more like a gang. And if you look at how he skirted the law to get the signature anti-union legislation passed, that description takes on more resonance. The wanton disregard for the law shows up in how he governs.

Rindfleisch could get up to 3 1/2 years in jail for her crimes, and Wink close to a year. But the bigger issue concerns the Walker recall, and whether his opponents can paint this picture of a corrupt, criminal enterprise happening in the orbit of the Governor.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/01/26/more-arrests-in-walker-john-doe-investigation/

[Ellipsis]

6. Criminal complaint reveals Walker email --- Excerpts from FDL article

Last edited Thu Jan 26, 2012, 03:45 PM - Edit history (2)

The criminal complaint that documents the email is against Kelly Rindfleisch, Walker's deputy chief of staff while he was Milwaukee County executive. It demonstrates that the story clearly concerned Walker about the activities of his employees.

"This email ... with its reference to no more laptops during the workday, provides an apparent explanation for the drop in Rindfleisch's daytime fundraising activity in the few weeks following Darlene Wink's resignation," the criminal complaint against Rindfleisch states.

Walker's email references a story about Wink, a county employee who resigned after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel learned she had posted about 70 comments favorable to Walker on the newspaper's website while on the clock. Wink was also charged today and faces two misdemeanor counts of solicitation by a public employee for fundraising activity in a county facility with county equipment.

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/crime-and-courts-criminal-complaint-reveals-walker-email/article_69d602e4-4844-11e1-a257-001871e3ce6c.html

[murielm99]

7. You might think these crimes are low on the totem pole, but

these are the crimes that got us through the layers of protection around Ryan in Illinois. Ultimately, one of his people made a deal to get out of jail and protect his fiance. He squealed on Ryan.

Ryan deserved to go to jail. People died because of what he did. Blago? Nah. All he did was talk and use the "F" word a lot.

I don't know if your Walker is actually corrupt. Maybe recalling him is the best you can get. Jail would be nice, but is it going to happen? We set the bar differently in Illinois, because there has been so much corruption. Sometimes I think jail is just another political tool in this state, like mud-slinging commercials and petition challenges.

Good luck to you. The whole world is watching. A sizable number of my family lives in your state. They have all helped with this recall to one degree or another. Even my parents, who are in their eighties, sought out the people with the recall petitions, so they could sign.

[Ellipsis]

8. Sorry to Misconstrue... those are the authors comments

Thanks for your support

[Ellipsis]

9. FBI probe should worry Walker --- Madison, The Isthmus Newspaper

The governor's assertion that he himself blew the whistle on the aides who, according to the Milwaukee County district attorney's office, stole funds from a fundraiser for veterans at the Milwaukee County Zoo doesn't match with the timeline outlined by investigators.

In April 2009 the chief investigator of the Milwaukee County district attorney's office interviewed Walker's then chief of staff, Thomas Nardelli. Nardelli acknowledged that he learned in 2008 that the Milwaukee County Zoo had not been paid for hosting the Operation Freedom picnic, and about the $11,000 that was missing.

"On numerous occasions during 2008 and 2009, Mr. Nardelli asked defendant [Kevin] Kavanaugh to provide an accounting," the criminal complaint states. Kavanaugh neither provided an account nor returned the funds. "Mr. Nardelli concluded that defendant Kavanaugh had stolen $11,242.24 of Operation Freedom funds," the criminal complaint states.

http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=35791

[Ellipsis]

10. Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said....

"The more we learn about the way Scott Walker came to power, the more corrupt it appears," Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said. "With two more Walker aides charged in a growing criminal corruption probe, there is not merely ethical smoke around the governor, there is a whole forest fire that illuminates the crooked turns for his benefit."

[EC]

11. I sure hope this progresses all the way to

Scotty and Reince. And before the election. Like maybe a month or less, so it's right in the front of everyones mind and in the papers a lot.

[TroglodyteScholar]

12. KICK !

These people are crooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooked.

Regretting the kind of company you've been keeping, Scott?

[hue]

13. Birds of a feather flock together! n/t

[ejbrush]

14. Here is a tasty tidbit...

From today's Cap Times Article:

"Walker, scheduled to be in Wausau Thursday as part of his Turning Around Wisconsin Tour, canceled the appearance because of weather conditions. The forcast for the Wausau area calls for a high of 34 degrees Thursday and a 10 percent chance of precipitation, with a 50 percent chance of snow on Friday and a high of 31."

Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/crime-and-courts-criminal-complaint-reveals-walker-email/article_69d602e4-4844-11e1-a257-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1kcYJeuhk

In fairness, I have to explain that here in Wisconsin, this is frackin' gorgeous weather for January. Unprecidentedly good weather. The road are better now than they are in the summer....

What a maroon.

[Ellipsis]

15. Not that I want defend the guy.... but the fog's been pretty bad in the area.

[ejbrush]

18. Ok, I'll give you that

Fog sucks for driving. Of course, El Gobernador is in a continual fog, anyway, so machts nichts.

[Ellipsis]

19. What's funny is, the only puplic he can get in front without being heckled is elementry school kids.

...and I think they're even catching on.

Walker had scheduled a public appearance in Wausau for Thursday, the day after he delivered his State of the State speech, but abruptly canceled it just an hour after the indictments were released. His office said it was canceled due to bad weather.

[Ellipsis]

16. "shocked", just shocked I tell you - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee County supervisors expressed shock at the criminal charges filed Thursday against two aides to then-County Executive Scott Walker and said Walker or another high level Walker staffer should have known about the alleged campaign activity and stopped it.

(snip)

"The county executive is the chief administrator for Milwaukee County, it's his job to make sure every employee knows the ethics code" that also bans campaign activity in the courthouse, said Supervisor Lynne De Bruin. She said if the charges are correct, it might be possible that Walker was kept in the dark by his staffers.

"Walker's top people -- they're the ones who are supposed to be making sure this is not going on," De Bruin said.

Supervisor Mark Borkowski said he doesn't view Walker as someone who would condone something so blatantly illegal, but was hard pressed to explain how it could have happened under his nose.

"Scott's no neophyte, he knows what the rules are," Borkowski said.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/138167609.html

[Ellipsis]

17. New YorK Times Post a blurb

Two former aides to Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin were charged Thursday with political fund-raising on public time, a development that could give fresh ammunition to critics seeking to recall the Republican. The charges against Kelly Rindfleisch and Darlene Wink, aides to Mr. Walker when he was Milwaukee County executive, stemmed from an inquiry into allegations of misconduct in public office and political solicitation by public officials and employees. The inquiry found that a private e-mail network had been run out of Mr. Walker’s office in 2010 to communicate campaign and government-related information, the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office said. This month, another former deputy chief of staff was accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from a fund for families of dead soldiers.