Of course – Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) is in stonewall mode and not answering questions at this point; although, he has hired two attorneys. Can’t say I blame him; now you may be asking – what is WalkerGate?
Two Milwaukee County officials appointed by Scott Walker when he was county executive were charged Thursday with embezzling more than $60,000 intended for veterans and their families, instead using the stolen funds on everything from Caribbean cruises to wedding expenses to renewing Walker-for-governor websites.
Prosecutors are accusing the two men – Timothy D. Russell, Walker’s one-time deputy chief of staff, and county veterans official Kevin Kavanaugh – with multiple felonies as part of the ongoing John Doe investigation into Walker staffers. The pair is accused of stealing the funds at different times using separate means.
Prosecutors also charged a third man – Brian Pierick, Russell’s domestic partner – with two felonies for child enticement.
Source: Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
You can find more about Governor Scott Walker and Wisconsin on IACWE HERE. The Ed Show explains more about WalkerGate:
But you needn’t worry…Governor Scott Walker has found some generous benefactors to “make it rain” … campaign cash that is. Make no mistake – Wisconsin is going to be GROUND ZERO for the labor movement. The Republican party is going to inject unlimited amounts of $$$ in 3rd party groups and corporate cash…wealthy donors and the like. The Democratic party is going to have boots on the ground via their strong partnership with state and national unions along with some major 3rd party money there as well.
Walker has been running around the nation to gather cash from corporate and right-wing sources, raising an astonishing $12.2 million in his effort to fend off a statewide recall election demanded by 1.1 million residents.
Walker, aided by a loophole in state law and the Citizens United decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, is raising unprecedented levels of funding, mostly from out of state, as azcentral.com disclosed:
Wisconsin’s polarizing governor is fighting attempts to recall him with money from out-of-state donors, who helped him bring in more than $12 million since last year.
An Associated Press analysis of campaign finance reports Republican Gov. Scott Walker filed Monday showed 61 percent of the $4.1 million he raised during the five-week reporting period came from out of state.
Walker’s latest efforts take advantage of a state law that allows targets of a recall to ignore the usual $10,000 per-donor cap and raise unlimited amounts until an election is set. Walker has been traversing the country raising money ‘and speaking at gatherings of conservatives from Texas to New York and Tennessee.
Source: In These Times
