Walkergate: Can I Get A Witness?

Eight months ago, I introduced you to Kelly Rindfleisch. I pointed out at the time how I thought Rindfleisch could become a pivotal character in the ongoing investigation into Scott Walker, his campaign and his staff, commonly referred to as Walkergate.

Sure enough, five days later, Rindfleisch was arrested and charged with four counts of illegal campaigning.

Now after eight months of some of the juiciest tidbits and some of the most frustrating attempts by Rindfleisch to stall or even derail the slow wheels of justice, we are just a few weeks from her jury trial.

And even though the trial is still some three weeks away, savory pieces of information keep coming out.

One of the most savory came out on Friday. The District Attorney filed their pretrial documents, including the state's requested jury instructions, their proposed Voire Dire Questionnaire, their witness list and their proposed verdict forms.

It is the witness list that has generated the most buzz.

The list contains 35 names, but unfortunately, neither the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel nor WisPolitics.com has shared the full list. But what they have shared is still pretty damn interesting.

Some of the names include:

• Brett Davis, Scott Walker's first choice for Lieutenant Governor. Davis was unsuccessful in his bid, but Walker kept him around by appointing him as the state Medicaid Director, a move that even conservative pundits questioned. Rindfleisch was Davis' main fundraiser during his short-lived candidacy.
• Michael Huebsch, Walker's Director of Administration and his right hand man. The listing has Huebsch down as "an event host," which the news outlets are interpreting to mean a specific campaign fundraising event.
• Keith Gilkes, Walker's former campaign manager turned Chief of Staff turned back to campaign manager.
• Cullen Werwie, Davis' former campaign manager, currently Walker's spokesman. Werwie is one of the biggest names of the people who have been granted immunity. The fact that Walker has kept Werwie on staff has also caused criticism from his conservative supporters.
• Jim Villa, former Chief of Staff for Walker while at the county. Villa was also involved with a lot of Walker's campaigning. Villa's name has also come up in the investigation into possible bid rigging while Walker was still Milwaukee County Executive. Villa was also Rindfleisch's vacation buddy.

There are some names which are conspicuous by their absence, such as: Tim Russell, who set up the secret router system Rindfleisch was using to do her illegal campaigning and was doing her job before she replaced him; Darlene Wink, who was working under Rindfleisch and also doing illegal campaigning; Fran McLaughlin, Walker's former spokeswoman and who was granted immunity for her testimony on how Rindfleisch had her proofread campaign mailers; and Andrea Boom, Rindfleisch's BFF who sold her out for a mere $47.60. Boom is currently Walker's campaign finance director.

But the biggest name on the list is none other than Scott Walker himself.

Oh, the imagination just runs wild at the thought of what questions they might be putting forth to Walker.

But I also foresee the possibility of trouble by putting Walker on the stand. I could see it becoming a case of he said/she said on whether Walker ordered her to do the illegal campaigning or whether he even knew it was going on.

Walker's name on the witness list does explain some things though.

It reinforces my thoughts that Walker is getting extremely nervous and thus is throwing Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Tommy Thompson all under the bus as he starts raising cash again for his legal cooperation fund.

It also would explain Walker's new found interest in the Constitution. Even though he has no use for the First Amendment and has so much as called the Constitution as being backwards, I bet he has the Fifth Amendment memorized and recites it in his uneasy, nightmare ridden sleep.

Then again, Walker might not need the Fifth Amendment since he has shown that he has no qualms whatsoever about blatantly committing perjury. If I was the Milwaukee County District Attorney, I'd have that complaint already drawn up, simply needing to insert the actual words used when Walker perjures himself and the date.

It should be noted that the final pretrial hearing is coming up Monday, but I don't expect much to come out of that except another request of delay by the defense. I don't expect that request to be granted given all the time they have been given already.

But as we wait to see what indeed comes on Monday and at the trial, I just want to give the gentle reader, and Kelly Rindfleisch, an appropriate musical interlude:

Up early in the morning with her on my mind

After finding out all night that I been cryin'

But I believe a woman's a man's best friend

And I'm gonna stick by her till the bitter end

Well she causes so much misery how's a gal supposed to be

Somebody somewhere tell her it ain't fair

Heh. Even Walker must be appreciating that verse.

What A Croc!

From the talented Stuart Carlson:

It is kind of fitting that Walker would be part of Never-Never Land.  My only question is who would be Smee - Becky Kleefisch or Mikey Huebsch?