Indicted aide Tim Russell is carrying water for Scott Walker on a state campaign tour
January 7, 2012 - The ongoing 'John Doe' probe into Scott Walker’s cozy hires is steadily unraveling his carefully crafted self-image. Right now it focuses on his past behavior as Milwaukee county executive but the unfolding investigation threatens to peek into his Wisconsin climb to governorship.
The details so far demonstrate that Walker dodged best practices in the simple responsibility of supervising donated money – taking shortcuts just to further his own flag-waving image as a friend of soldiers even if it exposed to fraud thousands of dollars intended for veterans and their children.
Simple control guidelines urged on Walker throughout that time by many experienced county hands were rebuffed. Government money, certainly at the county, is carefully scrutinized and audited, so the tip-off for many is how often Walker seeks out contributions from private companies, community organizations and charities. Ostensibly that reflects a philosophy about private giving but it also opens the door to far less scrutiny and more opportunity for corruption, particularly by a major government official the conservative community regards as a mini-deity.
The fraud according to the indictments was carried out by close aides, appointee Kevin Kavanaugh and longtime crony Tim Russell who also dipped into campaign funds of those running for county office and financed exotic vacations with the thefts. Also charged – with child enticement as well as campaign dipping --- was Russell’s domestic partner, Brian Pierick, a charge uncovered while investigating other matters. Kavanaugh, who allegedly stole the most money from a fund intended for children, was appointed by Walker later in 2010 to the county veteran board.
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When Supervisor John Weishan, a Marine, complained several years ago that Walker was engaged in self-aggrandizement, shutting out the America Legion and the County Board and insisting on creating his own charity effort along with Russell for veterans, Weishan was hooted down as just another liberal politician opposed to Walker’s right-wing vision. So busy were the attackers that they failed to notice what the DA seized on, that Walker created a 501 ( c ) for veterans out of his own elected office, a big warning signal of what could happen to funds from the well-meaning public.
Today, Weishan looks pretty prescient . . . while Walker? It’s as if the preacher’s son was grabbing a nap in the back pew when morality and ethics came up in the pulpit. read more>>>
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