Hush Money: Is Scott Walker Providing Aid to WisGOP Cronies Charged With Crimes?

[hue]

Source: PolitiScoop

MADISON -- New questions were raised after a report Monday in WisPolitics.com about a "third party" payee in the criminal defense of top Wisconsin Republican officer and longtime Scott Walker crony Tim Russell.

Recently unsealed court documents show that a third party is paying bills for Russell, who was hired or promoted eight times by Walker following his firing by another government agency for improper use of taxpayer dollars.

The unprecedented criminal corruption investigation against Walker has already netted two convictions with six aides charged with 15 felonies, making Walker's the most corrupt administration in Wisconsin history.

And, facing recall, Walker's campaign is attacking the judicial independence of the John Doe proceeding as well as stonewalling about several elements of the case, including just what Republican caucus scandal veteran Kelly Rindfleisch was hired to do by Walker. Wisconsin deserves to know the answers to some very basic questions that are well within Scott Walker's power to answer.

Read more: http://www.politiscoop.com/us-politics/wisconsin-politics/1325-hush-money-is-scott-walker-providing-aid-to-wisgop-cronies-charged-with-crimes.html

[ewagner]

1. I'm not sure

disclosure of who is paying the legal bills is a subject you can file an FOIA request on ...anybody know?

[tularetom]

2. I guess it would be if there was a suspicion that taxpayer dollars were somehow being diverted

to pay those legal bills. It wasn't clear from the post whether or not anybody suspects this but if they did it seems they would be entirely within their rights to file an FOIA request.

[madrchsod]

3. is this coming out of the federal investigation?

[tanyev]

4. IOKIYAR.

[AllyCat]

5. Nothing surprises me with this guy anymore. Nothing.

[freshwest]

10. +1

[Botany]

6. "a third party is paying bills for Russell"

Can you say Koch Brothers?

[HereSince1628]

7. I just finished reading the unsealed transcript...the third party money was a couple thousand

used as a retainer.

If it is hush money, Russell's silence would seem to have been bought very very cheaply.

This came to light because Russell's attorneys got into a fight with each other over getting paid and one wanted to be paid out of a retainer which had been placed in trust with the other attorney. Because the money had been paid by a third party it couldn't be released to a second attorney without permission of the parties involved in depositing the money in trust.

On top of that messy knot, the attorney seeking payment threatened to sue Russell...suing a client you are supposed to defend creates a significant conflict of interest.

If alleged hush money bought that sort of incompetence--it is pretty clear that Russell got a crumby bargain.

[ewagner]

8. GeeeeZ!

Can these guys create any bigger web of intrigue?

I wonder if the money can be labeled as a campaign contribution to Walker....ala..Money paid to John Edwards mistress from supporters allegedly for the purpose of "helping the campaign" ?

[HereSince1628]

9. The third party remains anonymous, IMO this points more toward comedy of error than

web of intrigue.

I can't claim to know anything about who was the third party, but at the beginning of Mar, the third party contribution was minor, and Russell was falling further and further behind on payments to his attorneys.

That seems to fall short of any kind of well oiled machine ensuring silence.

But, we are talking Scott Walker and consequently, all things are possible, even if improbable.

[Release The Hounds]

11. So what! He's ROCK STAR!