NYTimes Editorial: Another Layer of Scandal (Wisconsin/Georgia Thompson Case)

[Hissyspit]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/opinion/09mon1.html?hp

Editorial
Another Layer of Scandal

Published: April 9, 2007
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.

- snip -

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.

Ms. Thompson’s case is not the only one raising questions about whether prosecutors tried last year to tilt close elections toward the Republicans. New Jersey’s federal prosecutor conducted an investigation of weak-looking allegations against Senator Robert Menendez that was used in Republican ads.

The list of things to investigate keeps growing. A federal agency that protects the rights of military employees is now investigating the firing of David Iglesias...

MORE

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

1. Good catch

This is a many-tentacled scandal.

[L. Coyote]

2. kick and cross-post: Email-Gate FACTS: Felons, georgewbush.com, gwb43.com , et. al.

Email-Gate FACTS: Felons, georgewbush.com, gwb43.com , et. al.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x523978

[rodeodance]

3. i live here in WI----many thought it was a ruse-and Doyle WAS in

trouble because of this case.

I am so glad she is out of jail.

[rodeodance]

4. rec.

[Hissyspit]

5. .

[Old and In the Way]

6. Every US A case from here on out will get extra scrunity over the merits.

The value of this approach for Republicans has been nuetralized and may even motivate more voters to rid themselves of corrupted Republicanism.

[midnight]

7. This is very scary. How long has Biskupic held this govt. post.

Since Tommy Thompson?

[City Lights]

12. Shrub appointed him in May of 2002.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/wie/usa.html

[Hissyspit]

8. .

[DeepModem Mom]

9. K&R!!!

[Tatiana]

10. This story is HUGE! Thank the Lord the 7th Circuit showed some integrity and intelligence in their

actions. We obviously can't say the same for Biskupic. In fact, someone needs to drag Biskupic before a Congressional committee and find out who the hell pushed him to falsely prosecute Thompson. I hope Thompson is looking into pursuing civil litigation against Biskupic and any others involved in damaging her professional reputation and having her thrown in jail on bogus charges.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. LOL! I read the title as "Another LAWYER of scandal."

[malaise]

16. K & R

This is a massive story.

[Hissyspit]

13. .

[City Lights]

14. A 2003 article on him from the Milwaukee paper:

U.S. attorney dogged in pursuit of officials

Career prosecutor Biskupic says he's not seeking spotlight

By MEG KISSINGER
[e-mail]

Posted: Nov. 28, 2003

With his closely cropped hair, toothy grin and rosy cheeks, Steve Biskupic looks more like a Boy Scout leader than a bulldog.

But in the 15 months he's been in office, the U.S. attorney has had a lot of people in this town running scared. The notches in his prosecutorial belt include convictions of three Milwaukee aldermen and indictments of an ousted state senator and the former chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Pointing a finger at the camera during one of his frequent news conferences, Biskupic urged people to come forward with any information they might have of still more wrongdoing. It's clear that Biskupic has additional targets in his sights, including elected officials.

As the indictments rack up, Biskupic has defense attorneys' cell phones buzzing, TV news cameras whirring, FBI agents slapping high-fives, and political foes grasping for their bottles of Maalox.

more... http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=188596

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

15. Oh. I can't imagine! That poor woman!!!

Thankfully, the appeals court intervened in the horrifying miscarriage of justice.

This story is sickening. Reading it, I can not help but think of the Nazi regime's control over the judicial system.

It's frightening. :scared:

[Hamlette]

17. the most shocking thing about the case is this quote:

The Chicago-based United States Court of Appeals . . . took the extraordinary step of releasing Ms. Thompson from prison immediately after hearing arguments, without waiting to issue a ruling.

As a former public defender and lawyer of 30 years I have never heard of an appellate court releasing a defendant after oral arguments. I'm not saying it has never happened but it is highly unusual and sets off alarm bells.

Every person in the country should be concerned about the politicization of prosecutions.

[dragonlady]

23. They were obviously very affected by this case

The appellate judges ordered the lower court to take the steps necessary to get her out of prison before the end of business on that day.

[Hamlette]

24. here's a link to the oral argument on line

very interesting

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=587339

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

18. This just reminded me how towards the end of Sen. Bob Menendez' run for office, there was a federal

probe into an issue that he had already been exonerated on in Congress. I bet that this was purely political too.

[Supersedeas]

19. Call Mr. Biskupic before Congress right now and have him testify UNDER oath

[Imagevision]

20. Gonzo has to go!!

[KoKo]

21. His gift keeps on giving as more and more bubbles out of their cronyism and

ties together the Repugs use of the RW Christians and the RW Christians use of the Repugs ....all allowing the Corporations and Criminals to take over our Government.

Let Gonzales stay awhile longer. If Gingrich is calling for him to resign it's because the Repugs are scared shitless that their whole "Criminal/Religious/Crime Enterprise" will be EXPOSED.

Let him hang in there ...twisting and turning.

[KansDem]

22. WTF?!?!? Well, if thats the case, then all gloves are off...

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.

Let's really get to the bottom of all those multi-billion dollar, no-bid contracts for Halliburton, the Vice-President's own corporation...:grr:

[Oilwellian]

25. I wonder....

is he related to this woman:


Joan Biskupic has covered the Supreme Court since 1989. She is currently working on a biography of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, to be published by HarperCollins in early 2006.

Before joining USA TODAY in June 2000, she was the Supreme Court reporter for the Washington Post (1992-2000) and legal affairs writer for Congressional Quarterly (1989-1992). Prior to that, she covered government and politics for newspapers in Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

Biskupic holds a law degree from Georgetown University, a master’s in English from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in journalism from Marquette University. She is the author of several reference books, including Congressional Quarterly’s two-volume encyclopedia on the Supreme Court (3rd Ed., 1997, with co-author Elder Witt).

Biskupic is married and has a young daughter.

http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/aroundthetable/biskupic.html