Breaking News: Did Justice Louis Butler Receive Unreported In-Kind Corporate Contributions for Years?
March 25th, 2008
Did Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler receive unreported in-kind corporate contributions for years?
That’s what this complaint alleges.
In short, the complaint alleges that for several years Justice Butler’s campaign was run out of the offices of the Milwaukee law firm of Friebert, Finerty and St. John. That employees of the firm conducted various campaign activities on behalf of Butler and that the Butler campaign did not compensate the firm, nor record these services as in-kind contributions (which would have been illegally obtained anyway seeing as how you can not receive in-kind contributions from entities that can not give monetary contributions, like corporations).
Conservative activist Bob Dohnal filed the complaint today with the Government Accountability Board. Look for the Butler folks to spin, and the press to eat up, the “consider the messenger” line of attack. How the GAB handles this complaint will be the first tough test of the new body.
Developing…
(This should bring out my old friend Bob Laughalott)
March 25th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Brian -
This complaint would have a lot more credibility if it were filed by someone who doesn’t oppose Butler.
As it is, most people will probably filter this out (absent credible evidence presented by an indenpendent party) and consider it a political stunt.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Scott,
Forget that it was filed by someone who opposes Butler. The complaint would have a lot more credibility if it wasn’t filed by a nutjob like Dohnal.
Any chance that fellow wackjobs like Blonien and Tom Reynolds were co-signers on the complaint?
March 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Accepting an illegal corporate donation, as Butler is alleged to have done repeatedly over a period of years, is a felony. The Wisconsin Constitution prohibits felons and persons convicted of a misdemeanor involving the public trust from holding office.
Beyond the significant legal issue, what was Butler thinking when he chose not to recuse himself from cases argued by his own campign treasurer before the state’s highest court?
The so-called watchdog group response to this complaint will be very interesting. Pay attention to the level of outrage and self-righteous indignation applied to this case involving a liberal, as compared to the scrutiny the goo-goos applied to Justice Ziegler - a conservative.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:57 am
This is more about Dohnal’s crusade against the Friebert Finerty law firm than about Butler. Dohnal has a big ax to grind, so we should take this with grain of salt.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Do tell us more about FF&StJ v Dohnal. It sounds like grand reading.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I also hear that Hilary Clinton has some issues with Barack Obama. There must be some validity to that because she can’t be biased against him, can she?
March 26th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Let’s all take a breath. Justice Butler took free rent, secretarial services, legal services, accounting services, etc. from a downtown Milwaukee law firm organized as a corporation under Wisconsin law.
He didn’t pay rent. He didn’t reimburse.
That’s illegal.
The sponsor of the complaint is irrelevant.
If a Republican did this with a GOP law firm, Brian Blanchard would convene a John Doe, and you know it.
The liberal press and political-legal establishment will scoff at this because they are afraid of conducting an examination of the felony involved in the illegal corporate in-kind.
Additionally, why in the world would Butler allow these lawyers into his courtroom after he was taking free rent and other services?
Do you think they were putting a thumb on the scale of justice?
How many clients lost to Friebert Finerty and St John in Butler’s courtroom and are now wondering if it was rigged.
A good lawyer knows the law.
A great lawyer knows the judge.
A really great lawyer gives the judge a free campaign headquarters, a secreatry, an accountant, free legal advice and lots of other free stuff.
This is an outrage and you have to ask yourself:
Where is Mike McCabe when you need him?
March 26th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
[…] reader comments on my earlier post: Let’s all take a breath. Justice Butler took free rent, secretarial services, legal services, […]
March 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
[…] every specious “argument” against Judge Mike Gabelman are themselves silent about Justice Louis Butler’s very-cozy relationship with a Milwaukee law firm. […]
March 26th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Scott says, “Brian - This complaint would have a lot more credibility if it were filed by someone who doesn’t oppose Butler.”
I am sure there are many posts from Scott making the same case of the lies that have been told by OWN & PMW.
Of course not.
For once I would love to see one of you idiots answer the allegations instead of excusing them.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:08 am
[…] a complaint with the Government Accountability Board, but except for WisPolitics, Brian Fraley (1, 2), the Wisconsin Club For Growth, and now James Wigderson, there has been no coverage in the main […]
March 28th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Fred - I don’t know you (at least I don’t think I do), and you certainly don’t know me.
For all you know, Fred buddy, I may be a Republican who hopes for a little more out of my party & it’s allies. Both parties have too many crazy uncles who should stay locked in the attic and not be let anywhere near the public - YOU’RE EMBARASSING YOURSELVES!