May 31, 2012

The judge overseeing the John Doe investigation defends it against charges of partisanship.

"This has been an orderly and professionally conducted procedure... I realize the length of it frustrates some people. Once it's run its course, it's run its course."

Said former Appeals Court Judge Neal Nettesheim of Waukesha, interviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Nettesheim declined to comment specifically on whether Walker was constrained under the John Doe law from discussing what he knows about issues under investigation or from releasing specific emails. Nettesheim noted that his secrecy order extends to all parties, including the judge. Violators can be held in contempt of court. Nettesheim would be the enforcer if violations occur.
I guess it's for the judge to decide how far he's allowed to go.

ADDED: At a Barrett rally last night in Madison:
The mayor again appeared with former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, who has joined Barrett on the campaign trail this week. Feingold called Walker's decision not to disclose John Doe documents "cynical" since voters cannot recall him again in his first term.

"If we do not prevail ... Scott Walker will have committed the perfect political crime," Feingold said. 
Oh, that's rich! As if Scott Walker schemed to set up a recall election against himself. Instead of calling Walker "cynical," he should call the people who demanded the recall idiots. Plus, Feingold.... if Feingold really cared about recalling Scott Walker, he'd have stepped up and become a candidate. Instead the Democratic Party got stuck with a lackluster candidate who had already lost to Scott Walker. Finally, there are remedies other than the recall, and in fact, the recall is a bad political remedy that ought to be abolished. If Scott Walker is actually guilty of some crime — if there's ultimately something of substance behind all this John Doe investigatory smoke — the remedy of impeachment will be available. There is also the political remedy: pressure on Walker to resign.

28 comments:

TosaGuy said...

"Nettesheim noted that his secrecy order extends to all parties, including the judge. Violators can be held in contempt of court. Nettesheim would be the enforcer if violations occur."

Still waiting for Judge Nettesheim to enforce the myrid of secrecy violations involved with this investigation.

MadisonMan said...

I think if this were partisan, the charges would be brought prematurely. Or charges would be made up (see Biskupic & Georgia Thompson)

Naomi said...

"Political crime"?! That seems like a strange concept in the US. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding how he's using the term, but it makes me very uncomfortable since it's not a big mental step from "political crime" to "political criminal".

Anonymous said...

Nettesheim noted that his secrecy order extends to all parties, including the judge. Violators can be held in contempt of court.

And the governor who's potentially subject to these sanctions if he lets some information slip has hired lawyers. Must be guilty!

Matt Sablan said...

"If we do not prevail ... Scott Walker will have committed the perfect political crime."

-- It's not really the perfect crime if there is a long, ongoing investigation into it. The perfect crimes are the ones we never hear about. You know why? Because they pulled it off in silent efficiency.

Aridog said...

Sheesh! Wisconsin ... always trying to catch up politically to Chicago/Cook County Daley machine or Detroit/Wayne County McNamara (Florida Ed) machine ... who all strive to emulate Boston in corruption.

No dang "John Doe's" here ... all the criminals have well known names and usually hold high political office. Blatant perjury is de rigueur so any first liar stands no chance. Once in a while some voice mails trip up a dude, however.

Anonymous said...

Scott Walker - if that is his real name - is an evil political genius who orchestrated the fleebaggers, the recall, and all the attendant noisy idiocy in order to cover up for this John Doe situation and prevent a future, justified recall once we find out some actual facts. Well played, "Scott", well played.

jungatheart said...

What was the likelihood of Feingold winning?

Matt Sablan said...

"What was the likelihood of Feingold winning?"

Since he didn't run, my guess is "Not good," because politicians are self-preservationists first.

Paddy O said...

"is an evil political genius"

At the end of the John Doe investigations, Neal Nettesheim will pull the mask off of Scott Walker and reveal his real identity to be Karl Rove.

"If it wasn't for you meddling kids, I would have gotten away with it too," he'll say.

Nettesheim, Barrett, Feingold, and Falk will then get back into their Mystery Machine and be on their way to their next case.

edutcher said...

Do I detect a double theme?

Is this a first?

Rusty said...

MadisonMan said...
I think if this were partisan, the charges would be brought prematurely. Or charges would be made up (see Biskupic & Georgia Thompson)

How do you know they're not?
Would you like to share your inside knowledge?



"If we do not prevail ... Scott Walker will have committed the perfect political crime.



Being a Republican governor in a democrat state?

Methadras said...

So if leftards lose then Walker committed the perfect political crime. The fact that he won, in their eyes is a perfect political crime. Are they fucking serious? Ann, tell me again why your fascination with Feingold is warranted again? Is there something in the water? The air? The stupidity in Wisconsin is palpable.

Tom Spaulding said...

"It's not over until we win" - Russ Feingold, Statesman

Anonymous said...

Looks like someone should have run for Governor himself.

Feigold should shut his useless pie hole.

jungatheart said...

MS, maybe 'too close to call.' He was a popular senator, and you're right, wouldn't want to take the chance.

MadisonMan said...

politicians are self-preservationists first.

Then why did Falk run?

kcom said...

"Then why did Falk run?"

She had a lot less to lose. She was punching "up" instead of "down".

Matt Sablan said...

"Then why did Falk run?"

-- I didn't say they were all very good at it.

Michael Haz said...

Non-partisan? That's hilarious.

Check this video of Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm happily endorsing Mayor Tom Barrett the last time Barrett ran against Governor Walker.

traditionalguy said...

Feingold is saying that Secret Police should dissappear selected political opposition who refuse to wi accept the bribes that reasonable politicians are offered by the Unions raiding the Taxpayers.

That really is how Democracy looks to the Madison Elite.

Scott Walker has awakened them from their dreams, which makes them helpless and angry.

It's time for some more riots at the Capitol.

Steve Koch said...

MadisonMan said...
"I think if this were partisan, the charges would be brought prematurely. Or charges would be made up"

Haha, try again.

eelpout said...

The big question is whether the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is going to publish the alleged incriminating county bid rigging emails between Walker and John Hiller, or not. My guess is they won't. They endorsed Walker, and they get good revenue by having Walker in office.

Original Mike said...

"The big question is whether the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is going to publish the alleged incriminating county bid rigging emails between Walker and John Hiller, or not. My guess is they won't."

The key word here is alleged. You expect people to believe that the MJS has said e-mails but won't publish them?

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

The ghost of garage lives on...

eelpout said...

"The key word here is alleged. You expect people to believe that the MJS has said e-mails but won't publish them?"

It's pretty clear the MJS has at least have seen the emails. Whether they have possession of them isn't clear to me. I doubt they would endorse and publish them though, like I said, Journal Communications generates a lot of revenue from the turmoil and conflict of Scott Walker's governorship. Print, web, and radio. They don't even take their own reporting seriously it seems.

Original Mike said...

To say "Journal Communications generates a lot of revenue from the turmoil and conflict of Scott Walker's governorship", and then in the next breath posit that they would sit on e-mails that would generate even more controversy is just dumb.

tim in vermont said...

Doesn't this judge have a financial interest in the outcome of this investigation if his wife is a member of the teacher's union? Why doesn't that matter?