Attorney General Gonzalez has brought this upon himself and his party - with his ghastly handling of the Eight Men Out firings, he has created the environment in which Democrats can exploit every case with political overtones.
The latest "outrage" occurred in Wisconsin - let's have the NY Times editors set the stage with their simple and unresearched opinion:
As Congress investigates the politicization of the United States attorney offices by the Bush administration, it should review the extraordinary events the other day in a federal courtroom in Wisconsin. The case involved Georgia Thompson, a state employee sent to prison on the flimsiest of corruption charges just as her boss, a Democrat, was fighting off a Republican challenger. It just might shed some light on a question that lurks behind the firing of eight top federal prosecutors: what did the surviving attorneys do to escape the axe?
Ms. Thompson, a purchasing official in the state’s Department of Administration, was accused by the United States attorney in Milwaukee, Steven Biskupic, of awarding a travel contract to a company whose chief executive contributed to the campaign of Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. Ms. Thompson said the decision was made on the merits, but she was convicted and sent to prison before she could appeal.
The prosecution was a boon to Mr. Doyle’s opponent. Republicans ran a barrage of attack ads that purported to tie Ms. Thompson’s “corruption” to Mr. Doyle. Ms. Thompson was sentenced shortly before the election, which Governor Doyle won.
The Chicago-based United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit seemed shocked by the injustice of her conviction. It took the extraordinary step of releasing Ms. Thompson from prison immediately after hearing arguments, without waiting to issue a ruling. One of the judges hinted that Ms. Thompson may have been railroaded. “It strikes me that your evidence is beyond thin,” Judge Diane Wood told the lawyer from Mr. Biskupic’s office.
So the basic theory seems to be that Mr. Biskupic brought an absurdly weak case to please his zealous, politicized overlords in Washington and ensure his own job security. That theory was fine-tuned a bit in a subsequent AP story covering the request by Senate Judiciary Democrats for more info:
The Senate Judiciary Committee asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to provide documents related to the prosecution of a former state worker in Wisconsin whose bid-rigging conviction was overturned last week by a federal appeals court.
Committee chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and five other Democratic senators said in a letter sent Tuesday that they were "concerned whether or not politics may have played a role" in the case against Georgia Thompson.
And why was Biskupic vulnerable and eager to please? Apparently he was not tough on vote fraud:
The senators asked Tuesday for documents that would show whether Biskupic was considered for dismissal and replacement after Bush's re-election. Reports of voter fraud in the 2004 presidential election had prompted a federal investigation, but Biskupic reported in 2005 that the probe found no evidence of partisan efforts to sway the outcome. Democratic candidate John Kerry narrowly carried the state.
The senators also asked for communications between the Justice Department and the White House or outside parties regarding possible voter fraud in Wisconsin, the case against Thompson and Biskupic's handling of those cases. The committee said it wanted the documents by the end of the week.
So let's see - Biskupic was a stand-up guy who announced in late 2005 that he wouldn't be prosecuting vote fraud in his district. Just as with New Mexico's US Attorney Iglesias, who drew fire from his home state Senator, Biskupic found himself under pressure from the two Wisconsin Senators, Democrats Kohl and Feingold... OK, maybe not.
But Biskupic knew he needed something! So in Oct 2005 he announced that, in cooperation with the Democratic State Attorney General Lautenschlager and the Democratic Dane County District Attorney, he would cooperatively investigate allegations of corruption in the governor's travel office:
Federal, state and Dane County authorities have launched a joint investigation into a travel contract given to the company of a major contributor to Gov. Jim Doyle, officials said Thursday.
The investigation will be conducted by both the FBI and the state's Division of Criminal Investigation, which is supervised by Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard also will play a role in the process.
"By working together, we want to avoid any accusations of bias," said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Biskupic in Milwaukee.
They want to avoid any accusations of bias? Ooops!
Well. Ms. Thompson was indicted in January of 2006; a verdict was returned in June and she was sentenced in September. The Times finesses this timeline by telling us that Ms. Thompson was "sent to prison on the flimsiest of corruption charges just as her boss, a Democrat, was fighting off a Republican challenger". However, various Dem bloggers are a bit overexcited - here is The Carpetbagger (my emphasis):
We do know, however, that shortly before a close election, Biskupic brought extremely thin criminal charges against a top Doyle administration official who apparently did nothing wrong.
"Shortly"? To a geologist, it was the blink of an eye, but in politics, January to November isn't "shortly".
The Brad Blog also staggers on this:
...see the letter from Leahy for more details on the heels of a surprise Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision that issued an order immediately overturning a case brought by Biskupic against Georgia Thompson, an aide to Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Jim Doyle. Just in time for the '06 election we might add. (It didn't help; Doyle won anyway.)
"Just in time"? Inventory managers are swooning at this nine month "just in time" concept.
Well. Dem theorists will want to explain why Biskupic, in cooperation with two Democrats, brought a laughably weak case in January, then risked repudiation and humiliation by going to trial in the late spring. Surely if the case was this weak and motivated simply by politics, he would have announced the indictment in the fall and been shamed in court over the winter.
But wait! Biskupic won convictions on two counts! Not only did he seem to believe in his case, but he managed to push it past a jury.
I will have more, but that is a start. My Bold Prediction - Biskupic comes through this unscathed, or, as Yogi Berra might have said, there is no "there" here.
ERRATA: Useful defense background here; coverage of the appeals court decision here.
A BIT MORE: Two Dems to the defense:
Two Democratic prosecutors who were consulted during Biskupic's probe of the Doyle administration defended Biskupic against the charges.
"I in no way see the decision by U.S. Attorney Biskupic to pursue charges against Georgia Thompson as a political one," said former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, who often feuded with Doyle.
Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard, a Madison Democrat, called Biskupic "a respected, apolitical career prosecutor."
Bltsflk**I have a splitting sinus headache today and you pop up with something that takes a careful read..just darn, TM.
Posted by: clarice | April 11, 2007 at 02:34 PM
From the MJS article
"Biskupic signed the indictment against Thompson, but the case is being investigated jointly by the offices of the U.S. attorney, the state attorney general and the Dane County district attorney. Biskupic has recused himself from the portion of the inquiry that concerns Adelman and its employees because Craig Adelman is the brother of U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, who presides over cases in the Eastern District. That portion of the case is now in the hands of Stephen Sinnott, U.S. attorney for the state's Western District."
He apparently recused himself from part of the case.
Posted by: rouxdsla | April 11, 2007 at 02:47 PM
It is very sad to me that we are wasting our precious time on this junk when the country is in such peril from our enemies. Also, take the ridiculous situation that the Democratic presidential candidates refuse to debate at a Fox News sponsored event. Now that is down right unAmerican. The left-wingers who have forced this on the Democrats are a true danger to this country. To try to silence people you disagree with in that way!
Posted by: fschmieg | April 11, 2007 at 03:01 PM
It just might shed some light on a question that lurks behind the firing of eight top federal prosecutors: what did the surviving attorneys do to escape the axe?
Am I to understand that if Bush had just terminated them all upon his reelection, that noone would have said a word?
Did I ever tell ya about this big Bridge in Brooklyn I got fer sale?
Posted by: Pofarmer | April 11, 2007 at 03:25 PM
The Chicago-based United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit seemed shocked by the injustice of her conviction. It took the extraordinary step of releasing Ms. Thompson from prison immediately after hearing arguments, without waiting to issue a ruling.
Shocking, shocking I tell you.
I wonder if Libby will get the same consideration given the statements from the jury after the trial?
Yeah, I won't hold my breath.
Posted by: Pofarmer | April 11, 2007 at 03:27 PM
I know I personally look forward to Sen. Leahy, and his fellow committee Democrats, investigating all US Attorney convictions overturned on appeal. For if there is no other standard for politicizing the US Attorney's Office, it is most assuredly the appointment of incompetents as the US Attorney. And what other measure of incompetence is there but a conviction overturned on appeal. Let the Committee investigations commence. I look forward to Senators Kennedy, Schumer, Feinstein, Durbin, Feingold, et.al. lecturing the rest of us on the fine points of federal prosecution and litigation.
;-)
Posted by: Forbes | April 11, 2007 at 03:29 PM
Gee Tom
The entire USAGate was supposed to be "bupkis" - didn't turn out that way.
Posted by: TexasToast | April 11, 2007 at 04:16 PM
NM and a new home. 2008 dem running for President. Joe worked for Kerry to avoid subpeonas and sued later.
Plame worked on energy companies(probably foreign) so I would wonder a little about Brian. Brian know anyone who owns power things that are foreign? Gonazalez has to turn over classified documents regarding the AGs and they probably over lap Plame, since she may have been part of the 'criteria' for the AGs; she was never prosecuted for criminal conspiracy charges by Fitz 'by arrangement.'
So, now, we need some documents. They may involve Plame. They may involve energy companies from Brewster's Millions(don't forget there were other energy consultant Plames that came out during Plame) that Brian may know, kinda; like we all knew who Wells might have been.
Anyway, seems like witch hunting blackmail by the "dems' justice committee." I don't think they don't know what they are doing for one second. Well, never deal with CIA. Find one, sell 'em out fast and keep your money. Brian's friend may already have lost his............
Patterns Plame may have bought outside of the Iraq purchases:
The Algeria bombings remind us of why we shouldn't help the US or it's allies. I think this time it was Pelosi and Syria helping us with Iran; terrorists responded and I guess that's bad for the dems historically, but good for Al. Maybe dems need to resopnd to terrorists and it's really not their fault(9/11) Algeria, and next Syria.
Posted by: Roger | April 11, 2007 at 04:32 PM
He apparently recused himself from part of the case.
Don't I know it. For a while I thought Sinnott he handled the trial, since Adelman was involved there, but eventually I became convinced that Sinnott only handled the follow-up investigation with the Adelman people - for example, it is Biskupic who signed off on the prosecution's sentencing memorandum.
No charges have been filed against anyone at Adelman, BTW.
And Sinnott? He was an interim US Atty, made the short list for the permanent spot, and was passed over in June 2006 in favor of Erik Peterson.
I have a splitting sinus headache today and you pop up with something that takes a careful read..just darn, TM.
I am a new man since I got hopped up on DayQuil, but my head was also splitting earlier. Next - a post on Mr. Mxyzptlk.
Seriously, these mid-western names are a boon for Googlers - with Biskupic and Lautenschlager (the State AG), how can you miss?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Mxyzptlk
Posted by: Tom Maguire | April 11, 2007 at 05:46 PM
I've been away from Milwaukee too long to be certain of how to even pronounce his name--but my guess would be bis-coo-pich with the accent on the middle syllable.
Posted by: clarice | April 11, 2007 at 06:02 PM
Googled the names. College, cities, seem familiar........Biskupic is an acid? Yes, I heard they hired that too, but it smokes alot. This is real old stuff so I looked up
http://www.fightingbob.com/weblog.cfm?PostID=2039.
This really is funny but reminds me alot of USAID empoyees in Africa.
Anyway, what your saying is that they're mad that ceasing existence is possible and, in fact, the answer to religion and God somebody only did it once and they multi versed bodies to other locations. The problem with multi verse is it is an obvious attempt to continue existence of all things. Like if you see a UFO or a planet and cease them, they come right back. So, like, who would be behind continuing existence when we know the answer is to cease it? Well, that'd be lucifer trying to be Satan. Name games and numbers are for fools and Luciferians. Ending it is more fun.
That Algerian terror sure was hard to figure.
It'll be neat to 'watch all this and laugh.'
Posted by: Roger | April 11, 2007 at 06:28 PM
I didn't know about the book or I would have responded last night, but the Pope knows all this................
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070411/sc_nm/pope_evolution_dc
You know, there might be something to the Sinnot, but I'm not Anglican - they go after balls too!
Maybe I'll go withc hunting.
Posted by: Roger | April 11, 2007 at 07:16 PM
The entire USAGate was supposed to be "bupkis" - didn't turn out that way.
Tex, the Russian Army scored occasional victories during their rout back to Moscow in 1941 - Biskupic will be one of them.
(Not to say that the Dems are the German Army, natch...)
Posted by: Tom Maguire | April 11, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Yes the Wehrmacht was very good,if it hadn't been for Adolf,they might have won.
Posted by: PeterUK. | April 11, 2007 at 09:11 PM
I posted about this recently and thought I point out the latest wierd development (it reminded me of crux of the similar arrangement Peter Lance alleged Fitz had with some 9-11 informant)
here's another:
Posted by: topsecretk9 | April 11, 2007 at 09:29 PM
Yes, well one argument said bupkis, the other said Gonzales gone by April Fools.
Neither was right.
Neither will probably be right if making predictions at this point either.
Posted by: Jeff Dobbs | April 11, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Tom is right again. This was much ado about nothing.
Posted by: Psycheout | April 12, 2007 at 02:56 AM
This whole system for appointing Attorney Generals seems a little strange for me and something I wasn't aware about until recently. Since these AG's are responsible for investigating political mischief, it does seem a little biased that these AG's can be hired and fired at will by the chief of the politcal party in power at the time. This does seem to be a system that could be easily abused, or at least easily give the appearance of abuse.
I'm not sure how this system was started, as in, is this as old as the constitutional times, but this does seem to be part of the system of checks and balances that might need a little tune-up in order to avoid spectacles like this in the future, although I'm not sure exactly at this point how this could be done effectively.
Posted by: sylvia | April 12, 2007 at 03:55 AM
You'd rather have an unelected, unaccountable beauracrat heading up the entire Justice Department?
Posted by: Pofarmer | April 12, 2007 at 02:34 PM
Posted by: cathyf | April 12, 2007 at 02:50 PM
One does have to wonder why Biskupic only prosecutes Democrats.
Is it that Democrats are the ones committing all of the crimes?
Or could there be politics at work?
Posted by: xoff | April 12, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Welcome to our game world, my friend asks me to buy some wakfu gold .
Posted by: sophy | January 06, 2009 at 07:31 PM
When you have LOTRO Gold, you can get more!
Posted by: LOTRO Gold | January 14, 2009 at 04:38 AM