The Georgia Thompson case in Wisconsin

[struggle4progress]

Worker convicted in Wis. donor flap free

04/06/07 02:59 pm (GMT)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A former state worker whose fraud conviction played a role in last year's race for governor was released from prison Thursday after a federal appeals court acquitted her. ~snip~

http://www.forextv.com/FT/AFX/ShowStory.jsp?seq=211595

Federal court of appeals overturns convictions of former Doyle aide

By Ryan J. Foley
Associated Press writer

~snip~ Acting on the Chicago court’s order, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa in Milwaukee ordered Thompson released on her own recognizance. His one-page order said she could move back to Wisconsin. ~snip~

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070405/APC0101/70405164

Georgia Thompson: Now comes the reckoning

Bill Lueders on Friday 04/06/2007 12:04:39

As legal developments go, this one was a stunner, a moment worthy of "Perry Mason" -- you know, where the legendary TV lawyer would deftly get a witness on the stand to confess to the crime, vindicating the defendant.

After just 26 minutes of oral arguments, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the conviction of Georgia Thompson, the former state Department of Administration official, on charges of fraud. Thompson, who steadfastly maintained her innocence, had been prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic in a case seized on by his fellow Republicans to taint Gov. Jim Doyle. She had served four months of an 18-month sentence when the appeals court set her free.

That's right. It set her free. On the spot. No weeks of deliberation. No order that she merely be granted a new trial. The court deemed the evidence against Thompson so lacking -- "beyond thin," one member of the three-judge panel put it -- that it overturned her conviction and ordered her release. ~snip~

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=6219

Thompson freed; judge chides prosecutors
Doyle taint lifted?

By David Callender and Judith Davidoff

~snip~ Prosecutors said Thompson rigged the bidding process to ensure a contract to book travel for state employees went to Adelman Travel Group. The Glendale firm's CEO and a board member each gave the maximum donation of $10,000 to Doyle near the time of winning the contract. ~snip~

Thompson maintained her innocence and said she was unaware of the company's political ties. Doyle, meanwhile, maintained that he had never met her, and other top administration officials denied any efforts to sway action on the contract.

During oral arguments Thursday, <Thompson's lawyer, Stephen> Hurley said the charges of misapplication of funds and honest services fraud were beyond a stretch. ~snip~

Appellate Judges Wood, Frank Easterbook and William Bauer seemed to agree. ~snip~

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/index.php?ntid=128250&ntpid=1

Conviction may cost Thompson $300,000
Former state employee in seclusion after release

By STEVEN WALTERS and PATRICK MARLEY
[e-mail]

Posted: April 6, 2007

Madison - ~snip~

• After being convicted by a federal jury in Milwaukee in June of two felonies accusing her of steering a controversial state contract to a travel agency linked to Gov. Jim Doyle's re-election campaign, she resigned a $77,300-a-year state job. In a highly unusual move, federal appeals judges tossed out those convictions on Thursday immediately after hearing oral arguments and ordered her released from prison that very day.

• Between her resignation and Thursday's order that freed her, Thompson lost about $60,000 in wages.

• Veteran defense lawyers estimated her legal bills at $250,000 to $400,000.

• To help pay off that debt, she cashed in her state pension and sold her Town of Westport condo for $264,700 after she was given an 18-month prison sentence. There was no mortgage on the condo, according to Dane County property records. ~snip~

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=587861

Lawyer: Georgia Thompson Can Return To State Job
Federal Court Acquits Ex-State Employee

POSTED: 7:02 pm CDT April 6, 2007

MADISON, Wis. -- ~snip~

On Thursday, Doyle called Thompson's conviction an injustice and said that Thompson is entitled to her former job and back pay.

Madison attorney Steve Hurley, who represented Thompson during her trial in Milwaukee, said that Thompson will decide this weekend whether to return to her job. ~snip~

http://www.channel3000.com/news/11554397/detail.html

Democrats question U.S. attorney's role in Wis. political case

~snip~ State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke says the case was weak from the beginning and questioned its timing in an election year.

Doyle's opponents cited the case last year in campaign ads alleging corruption in his administration.

Wineke says recent revelations about political influence in the Department of Justice raises questions about whether Biskupic was acting to please his bosses. ~snip~

http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6336526

Credit where credit is due. I started from here:

April 06, 2007 -- 09:59 PM EST

There was a lot of buzz today about a corruption case in Wisconsin from last year. A Bush-appointed US Attorney indicted a government bureaucrat in a case that implicated the state's Democratic governor. But yesterday a circuit court threw out the conviction saying the evidence against the convicted official was "beyond thin." ~snip~

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[rumpel]

1. sounds like the justices where

somewhat upset...? 26 minutes is a speed hearing.

I hope restitution will be paid to her.

[aquart]

2. Does she have the right to sue their asses off?

[rumpel]

3. the actual order:

Order

The judgment of conviction is reversed, and the case will be remanded with instructions to enter a judgment of acquittal. An opinion will be issued in due course. The time to file a petition for rehearing is extended until 14 days after the court issues its opinion. This extension of time also means that the mandate will be deferred. But Thompson is entitled to immediate release from prison, on her own recognizance. The United States must make arrangements so that she may be released before the close of business today.

http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx

I am curious about the actual opinion.

[Parisle]

4. A stunning case,....

--- Maybe "Monica" knows all about it.

[Seldona]

5. Kudos to Governor Doyle.

Offering his support throughout this sham, offering her her job back with back pay. I believe if he has anything to say about it there will be investigation into politicization of the US Attorneys Office. Perhaps this is what it takes to be a 'loyal Bushie?'

I wonder if there were brown-bag lunches with Power Point presentations from Karl Rove's office with a department head asking senior management how they can use their agency to help their candidates and target the Democratic Party?

:puke:

Edited to add that he did not do anything to help her after her conviction. I seem to recall a news report that he denied any wrong doing and supported her at least initially.

[DFW]

6. For justice to be served

The Republican US Attorney, Biskupic, should be required to
serve the rest of Thompson's sentence. See how he likes it
when political revenge is used to put innocent people in jail.
Maybe when he gets out, he won't be so quick to do Karl Rove's
bidding any more.

[rzemanfl]

7. This woman's legal fees should be paid by the state, she was

a public official and she has been acquitted. This is another sorry chapter in Gonzogate.

[murielm99]

8. Let her legal fees be paid by

the US Attorney and ROVE.

[rzemanfl]

9. Maybe the State can get them to. I believe Wisconsin law

requires that the state reimburse an acquited public official for defense costs if the case involved their official duties.

[struggle4progress]

10. Self-kick cuz I think the story deserves a wee bit more attention

:kick:

[BrklynLiberal]

11. K&R! You are right ..this deserves alot more attention...by the MSM as well.

:grr:

I hope she can sue the pants off someone!!!!

[Miss Chybil]

12. Roll'em, roll'em, roll'em. Keep those heads a rollin'...

This is going to be so much better than Watergate.

[annabanana]

13. not too late to recommend

and KICK!