Walkergate: All The Governor's Lawyers

While we are not so patiently waiting for John Doe to drop some more shoes, there has been some interesting out-of-court maneuvering going on.

Steve Biskupic, who had been working for Scott Walker's favorite law firm, Michael Best and Friedrich, has been representing Walker's campaign during the Walkergate investigation.  The most recent report, from April of last year, shows that Walker's campaign had already dumped $115,000 for Biskupic's services.  Undoubtedly, the number is much, much higher now.

Well, apparently Biskupic has gotten tired of making other people rich and wants the gravy train all for himself, so he's left the law firm to establish his own.  The article doesn't say whether the Walkergate account will follow Biskupic or stay with the law firm.

But then again, the article also doesn't mention Biskupic's biggest case, where he tried to pull a quick one on Georgia Thompson, who had been framed for corruption.  The conviction was quickly overturned and Biskupic was told that his "evidence is beyond thin."

On the other hand, Biskupic's departure might not necessarily have anything to do with looking for greener pastures.  He is the second big name to leave the law firm in the past six months.  Eric McLeod left the firm last July.  I wonder who was more relieved with McLeod's exit, McLeod or the law firm.  

When you have big names leaving like that, it makes me wonder if they are simply looking to make it big on their own or if they are rats fleeing a sinking ship.

Also in the news is one of Walker's personal attorneys, Michael Steinle.  Steinle made the news for representing another sad sack of a person, the husband of slain Wauwatosa Police Officer Jennifer Sebena, who is accused of stalking and executing his wife.

So, What Else Is Old?

Yawn.

Big news of the day so far: Walker lied - yet again.

A few days ago, I informed the gentle reader that Walker was painting himself into the proverbial corner by lying about his knowledge of his spokesman being given immunity in the ongoing Walkergate.

Today, Dan Bice, bordering on beating a dead horse, confirms what common sense and logic dictates - that being given immunity in a John Doe investigation is not a secret.

The only real question is whether Walker will admit to his gaffe or will he try to blame his attorney, former US Attorney Steven Biskupic for the mess that Walker put himself into?

Walker's Image Problem Within An Image Problem

A lot of people call Scott Walker a savvy politician. It is closer to the truth to say that he is a bumbling fool who is fortunate enough to have been found to be a useful tool to the likes of  Koch Brothers.  If you don't think so, think back to how he was a groveling supplicant to a caller he thought was David Koch.

But his current self-imposed image problems, both big and small, are all his own doing.

His much larger image problem, and the one that could very well be his undoing, is, of course, Walkergate.  The apparent depth and width of the ever-growing scandal is absolutely breathtaking and it's hard to imagine how he is going to politically survive even if a fraction of the investigations pan out.

But Walker has another, albeit smaller, image problem which he has imposed on himself.

As Zach Wisnewski already noted, Walker is making an unbelievable claim that he did not know that his spokesman, Cullen Werwie, had been granted immunity in the ongoing John Doe probe.

In fact, Walker had this to say just the other day, which has obviously become his talking point since the squawkers and a few right wing bloggers have been faithfully parroting it unquestionably:

Talking to reporters after holding his second Job Creation Forum on Tuesday, the first-term Republican governor said he had no idea that his spokesman, Cullen Werwie, had been given an immunity deal until it became public late last week.

Walker said he doesn't believe Werwie should have told him about the deal sooner.

"He'd be violating the law, if that was part of the condition," Walker said. "For me, I just learned about it the other day, just like everything else we've talked about or things people in the media have talked about."

And thus an image problem is born.

You see, the thing is, while John Doe's are typically secretive affairs and the facts aren't supposed to be made public until indictments are handed out. The one exception to this is when immunity is granted. That, per the law, has to be done in an open court venue.

Walker had paid $60,000 to a high priced law firm in order to get the services of former US Attorney Steven Biskupic to represent his campaign in the investigation.

While Biskupic's integrity has been called into question during the Georgia Thompson affair, I don't recall anyone inferring that Biskupic to be incompetent.  That wipes out Walker being able to say that he had poor representation in this.

That only leaves that he is lying through his teeth when he denies knowing anything that has been going on in the probe, especially if it was a matter that was done in an open court.

Whether you believe Walker to be a liar, or just a rube that is getting taken by a fancy lawyer, it shows that Walker isn't fit to run a lemonade stand, much less the State of Wisconsin.  Which also explains why he is so hot and heavy to get his hands on the rules regarding recalls.

But I have news for Walker.  Short of trying to wipe out the ability to have recalls at all, you still don't have a chance.

So When Does This All Become A Conflict Of Interest?

That someone is the law firm of Michael Best and Friedrich. And it appears this is one heck of a snugglefest for the law firm, Walker and his campaign, and the Republicans in general.

Emily Mills, writing for the Isthmus, points out that Walker and the Republicans as called upon the Michael Best and Friedrich law firm to help them with their power grab on redistricting. Ms. Mills also finds out an interesting fact in that Reince Priebus, head of WISGOP and backstabber to Michael Steele:

The GOP is hiring two outside law firms, Michael Best and Friedrich and Troupis Law Office, to help them draw the new legislative district boundaries -- but disallowing the Democrats to hire their own attorneys for the process.

And -- surprise surprise! -- there are direct ties between Republican officials and these firms:

Reince Priebus, chairman of the state's Republican Party and a candidate to lead the Republican National Committee, works for Michael Best. But campaign finance reports show attorneys from the firm have donated to both Republicans and Democrats. James Troupis, who has frequently contributed to Republican campaigns, worked at Michael Best for years before starting his own company last year.

Is it wrong to hire people one knows and presumably trusts for this kind of work? Not inherently, I don't think, but it certainly warrants a raised eyebrow or two. Add on top of that the fact that the fees charged by these outside firms will likely be paid for with taxpayer money, and that Democrats aren't being allowed the same benefit, however, and this goes from suspect to dirty pretty fast.

Well, well. Isn't that a nice bit of payback? But wait, that's not all!

The name of the law firm triggered a red flag for me, making me think that Walker had another tie in to this law firm. Sure enough, he does. Michael Best and Friedrich is also the employer of former US Attorney Steven Biskupic, who Walker's campaign has retained to defend itself (and Walker) from the growing investigation into campaign law violations and Walker's campaign:

In a widening probe, Milwaukee County prosecutors are pushing forward with their two-prong criminal investigation into campaign activity by county staffers for Governor-elect Scott Walker and questionable donations by a Walker supporter.

Sources say the case has gotten to the point that the Walker campaign recently brought in former U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic, now with Michael Best & Friedrich. Walker will step down next week as Milwaukee County executive.

The same law firm is defending Walker and his campaign from the growing scandal and doing work to rig elections so that Walker and his Republican allies can stay in power for the next ten years.

And all this time the Republicans have been saying that Democrats have been the ones with tight relations with trial lawyers. Ha! They're pikers compared to Walker and his crew.

The big question though is this: So when does this become an official conflict of interest?