Wisconsin’s Government Starting To Stink Like Rotten Fish

Two more of Governor Walker’s aides have been charged in a pattern of illegal fundraising and a systematic system of breaking campaign finance laws by the the inner political circle of Governor Walker.  Imagine that.  A Rethuglican breaking the laws and lying to the public.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm charged Kelly Rindfleisch, 43, with four felony counts of misconduct in public office and Darlene Wink, 61, with two misdemeanor counts of political solicitation by a public employee. Both worked for Walker during his time as Milwaukee County executive, and both are accused of fundraising activities while at their taxpayer-funded jobs.

Also in the complaints made public Thursday were accusations leveled toward Walker’s close associates, including the use of personal laptop computers and an unofficial “secret email system” to solicit money for the campaigns of Walker and Brett Davis, who was running for lieutenant governor. Investigators say they kept the system hidden from all but a close group of Walker’s insiders.

So now the Governor had to know about the secret email system.  And if he knew, then he knew that he was breaking laws.  And if he knew that he was breaking laws, then the Recall effort that has been undertaken in Wisconsin is even more legitimate than it was.  And for those of you that say that he didn’t know, well there is this…

But perhaps most notable in the complaints is an email from Walker to a longtime top aide discussing the resignation of Wink, who left her county job after admitting to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she frequently posted political comments online during working hours.

“We cannot afford another story like this one,” Walker wrote about the Wink story. “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.”

He wasn’t worried about the illegal activity.  He was worried about the media finding out about any more wrongdoing.  Yep that law abiding moral governor of Fitzwalkerstan really showed his true colors there.

The new allegations bring the total number of people criminally charged in the John Doe investigation to six. Earlier this month two Walker appointees, Tim Russell and Kevin Kavanaugh, were arrested and charged with embezzling from veterans groups. Russell’s partner, Brian Pierick, also was charged with child enticement.

The probe already has netted one conviction. William Gardner, president of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, was sentenced to two years of probation after acknowledging funneling at least $72,800 in illegal and excessive campaign contributions to Walker and other candidates.

Um, where is that pillar of virtue that we all had to hear last year about Walker and his cronies in Wisconsin.  And where are all of those GOP members that argue that only Democrats break campaign finance laws?  And the stench also has move beyond the Wisconsin borders.  It has went all the way up to the RNC Chairman.

Wink is accused of arranging fundraisers, “robo-calls” and writing campaign-related press releases in 2009 while working under Walker in the Milwaukee County executive’s office.

The counts allege that Wink violated state laws prohibiting solicitation of political contributions in public buildings and banning public employees from soliciting or receiving money or services for any political purpose while at work.

The criminal complaint said Wink, Walker’s constituent services manager, exchanged numerous campaign-related messages with top Walker campaign staffers, including operations manager Joe Fadness, as well as Reince Preibus, then Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman and now head of the Republican National Committee.

The complaint reveals that Fadness was among those testifying in the John Doe investigation. Other witnesses include Rose Ann Dieck, membership chairwoman for the Milwaukee County Republicans, who has received immunity from prosecution.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/two-more-ex-walker-aides-charged-in-john-doe-investigation/article_0d64606e-4835-11e1-b461-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1kcmnR6E6

Hopefully, the recalls in Wisconsin prevail and the Governor, Lt. Governor, and the 4 others up in recall elections are defeated.  It might show the Rethuglicans that even though their breaking of laws brings them success in the short term, that in the end, all they do is destroy their credibility and screw the American people over.