‘No cop in the state’ would arrest WI Senate dems

[cal04]

Source: Raw Story

Wisconsin senate majority leader Scott Fitzgerald was warned by legal representatives of three separate state agencies that ordering state troopers to forcibly return senate Democrats to Madison would place his actions in a zone "outside the law", according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The Journal has obtained memos and e-mail from Fitzgerald's office and the office of Sergeant-at-Arms Ted Blazel through a public records request.

Fitzgerald now admits in an interview with the Journal that his efforts to compel the Democrats back to the State House were "a mess" and that when he tried to give a statewide order for law enforcement to arrest the missing lawmakers, “There was no cop in the state that would enforce it.”

It was Fitzgerald who issued the controversial "call of the House" on February 17th, when Democratic senators fled the state to avoid a vote on Governor Scott Walker's bill curbing the collective bargaining rights of public employees. Three days after the walkout, Fitzgerald ordered state troopers to the residence of Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, who wasn't at home. This prompted a dialogue between Fitzgerald's office and Wisconsin's Legislative Council and Legislative Reference Bureau concerning the legality of the Fitzgerald's actions.

(snip)
The State Journal: “We would strongly recommend that you attempt to get the Senate’s Order to Detain out of the system, i.e. to the extent possible indicate publicly that it has been withdrawn so that law enforcement do not rely upon it and attempt to enforce it, thereby creating unnecessary liability exposure to them and the state,” Kevin Potter, an assistant attorney general, said in a March 4 email.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/02/no-cop-in-the-state-would-arrest-wi-senate-dems/

---

'No cop in the state' would arrest Senate dems: Fitzgerald
(snip)
He said the reality was brought home when police agencies refused to carry out his March 3 order to forcibly detain the senators. Among them was Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden, who said his department would not honor any order to bring in Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_837105bb-062e-549e-9c23-2a68b8566788.html

[eowyn_of_rohan]

1. Fitzgerald needs to go.

He is one messed up dude.

[HereSince1628]

4. Yes...from one rather politically unusual family.

The good news is that the sunset of their teahadi careers are foreseeable.

[Stuart G]

2. Ditto...K and R.

[iwishiwas]

3. "he states that he has no regrets about his handling of the situation"..

Only through a recall would be begin to have regrets--as he would have to spend his campaign money that he picked up in DC last month.


He is on the recall list.





Fitzgerald said he continued to try to find ways to bring the missing lawmakers back to the capitol even when he knew that it was a futile endeavor. Nonetheless, he states that he has no regrets about his handling of the situation.

[howmad1]

13. Only a rethuglican scum bag:

....would have no regrats. These bastard repukes are all alike.

[russspeakeasy]

14. I wonder how much money this piece of shit is going to walk away

with..

[Judi Lynn]

5. It's so good the police he contacted set him straight, stood up to these sociopaths. n/t

[cstanleytech]

6. Is what Fitzgerald did a crime under his states laws? If it is

then shouldnt he be impeached?

[iwishiwas]

8. I wonder if the WI Legislation has some kind of Ethics committee? Probably

-if they do -Walker's Repug poodles are Chairing it and nothing will be done. Damm!

[Jackpine Radical]

36. Impeachment with a R Senate & Assembly?

There might be some mild difficulties there.

[iwishiwas]

7. Look at this arrogant SOB school yard bully said!......

....“Every time we made a move it was always something that you in your wildest dreams never that you’d be involved with,” Fitzgerald said. “The discussions we had were incredible, almost surreal.

“They characterize me as some evil overbearing guy who was trying to do all these dirty tricks. We were just trying to do the best we could ... to figure out how to get these things back on track — get the Senate back.”

[calimary]

9. One word: ASSHOLE.

Soon-to-be-recalled ASSHOLE I hope!

He needs to be taught a really good lesson about republi-CON overreach and trying to screw the workers.

[dragonlady]

40. Can't be recalled this year

He is from the 13th District, and the odd-numbered senators started their new terms just this year.

[Release The Hounds]

10. Well, I assume 'one' cop would

Old man Fitzgerald.

[Dappleganger]

11. Don't screw law enforcement unions then expect them to back you up.

They're not stupid. That entire voting block is going to swing over to the other side in a massive day of reckoning during the next election.

[freshwest]

12. Makes me hopeful for the solidarity of people in Wisconsin carrying the day!

[randyk100]

15. Bully

Court jester fitzy of fitzwalkerstan reminds me of a schoolyard bully. After he has pushed someone around, and they push back, he would run to the teacher with crocodile tears and yell, "SHE pushed me BACK—wah, wah—SHE pushed me BACK, SHE pushed me BACK"! This bully is pathetic.

[drm604]

16. Don't you love how they euphemize "illegal"?

Scott Fitzgerald was warned by legal representatives of three separate state agencies that ordering state troopers to forcibly return senate Democrats to Madison would place his actions in a zone "outside the law"

A zone outside the law? Why can't they just say "illegal"?

[Supply Side Jesus]

17. This must the police state I've heard so much about

:sarcasm:

[freshwest]

19. Yup. And so goes the nation...

[midnight]

18. K&R Fitgerald is a lawless man.....

The Majority Leader's office, however, sent troopers to state senators homes again four days later. It was when Fitzgerald attempted to use statewide police warrant verification network to issue an official "Order to Detain" the Democrats that the Wisconsin Department of Justice urged the Majority Leader and the Senate to drop the order rather than force law enforcement personnel to carry out acts that would ultimately prove to be illegal.

[myrna minx]

20. K&R n/t

[Tripod]

21. k&r

[madrchsod]

22. more to the point is no judge would issue an arrest warrant and

with out an arrest warrant they could`t arrest them in illinois.

these guys are burning every bridge they cross

[trud]

23. Certainly glad we have the rule of law in this country

Wouldn't want to think the police only arrested those they disagreed with.

I can just imagine the outrage in here if the police let TeaBaggers run amok.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[No Elephants]

33. LOL!

[JoeyT]

28. Yes, I'm glad too.

They're disobeying illegal orders, and good for them.

And since when have the Teabaggers not been allowed to run amok?

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[No Elephants]

34. Are you outraged Fitzgerald wasn't arrested? He was the only lawbreaker in the OP story.

Always good to read AND understand the OP story before you go imagining negative things about DUers, esp. if you haven't posted here very often.

[HughBeaumont]

38. The TeaBirthers go to presidential events armed.

They beat up Gold Star dads in full view of cops. Nary an arrest.

Their comments and protest signs are a hood short of "President (insert racial slur here)".

Since when have they been suppressed?

[Cherchez la Femme]

39. "Run amok"? LMAO

That's what you call the disappearance of the WI Dems?

Bloviate much? :rofl:

Oh and BTW --try and educate yourself, if you can manage it--

the sheriffs refused to carry that order out because it was illegal.

[LanternWaste]

45. I do realize many people willfully misinterpret a truth because

You appear to misinterpret. The statement is merely law enforcement agents stating they would not arrest those who are not breaking a law. I would think this would place anyone who supports the rule of law at ease... as it's following that very rule of law.


Although I do realize many people willfully misinterpret a truth because, well... the truth has a liberal bias. :shrug:

Your hypothetical scenario does beg the question... who ran amok?

[Scuba]

24. Good for the Wisconsin Law Enforcement community. Warrants this...

...being reposted.

Here in Wisconsin our Law Enforcement Officers have been taxed to the max due to Scott Walkers criminal activities.

There have been literally tens of thousands of encounters between LEO's and citizens. Virtually all have been pleasant exchanges of good will, ... thanks for doing your job officer.....we're glad you're here officers....we're glad you're here too sir.

The LEO's have been exemplary in their conduct. They have treated everyone with dignity and respect.

As you might expect, the protesters have been well behaved also. Passive resistance to leaving the capitol is the ONLY thing that came into play where LEO's had to physically touch people. That was done with a MINIMUM of force. I've heard NOT ONE complaint about how protesters were treated.


This needs to be the example for the nation. That LEO is your neighbor !!!

And he/she is on OUR side.

[A wise Man]

25. Let me see here....

We put these assholes in office and they tell us to go to "HELL" i.e they are above the law. Now when Senators disagree with dumb policies by protesting....."A HOLES" like Fitzgerald think they can tell policemen (whom they are trying to oust in unions) to go and arrest Senators that are protesting in the policemen behalf. These rethugs have completely lost their minds. OOPS SORRY THEY DON'T HAVE MINDS!!!!

[bucolic_frolic]

27. Don't You Like the Friendly, Smaller, Christian Government?

These are the get-the-government-off-our-backs GOP.

Using the coercion of the State to enforce their political agenda.

Two-faced hypocrites.

[Skittles]

42. excellent post, bucolic_frolic

yes INDEED :hi:

[WillyT]

30. K & R !!!

:kick:

[tcaudilllg]

32. Wow, this was a REVOLT.

[L. Coyote]

35. FELONY: "Fitzgerald ordered state troopers to the residence of Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller"

Good, there still are some people in WI who know the law is there to be obeyed!

Now, if only there was someone to enforce the law when it is violated by a powerful politician!

Wisconsin GOP Leaders Knew Using State Troopers Broke the Law
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4783856

Violation of state statute 946.12 is a Class I felony.

http://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2010/946/946.12.html

946.12
Misconduct in public office. Any public officer or public employee who does any of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:

946.12(1)
(1) Intentionally fails or refuses to perform a known mandatory, nondiscretionary, ministerial duty of the officer's or employee's office or employment within the time or in the manner required by law; or

946.12(2)
(2) In the officer's or employee's capacity as such officer or employee, does an act which the officer or employee knows is in excess of the officer's or employee's lawful authority or which the officer or employee knows the officer or employee is forbidden by law to do in the officer's or employee's official capacity; or

......

[liberal life]

37. note 2 Nazis- You overplayed your hand you assholes-now you are going down!!

:applause:

I am so tired of these whiny greedy hypocrites I could scream!



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[Vidar]

41. Very impressive. I can't praise the Wisconsin Police highly enough.

[StarsInHerHair]

43. too late for me to Rec

but kickin it

[TroglodyteScholar]

44. I don't really have anything to add...

...I just L-O-V-E this story.