In light of recent allegations that many US Attorneys across the country were fired because they weren’t pushing “Democrats are committing voter fraud” cases, or they were canned because they were going after any elected official who happened to be a Republican, like “Duke” Cunningham, it’s interesting to note the US Attorneys who didn’t get fired. Like the US Attorney for Eastern Wisconsin, Steven Biskupic.
When you consider the almost unparalleled action that took place this week with the George Thompson appeal, you have to wonder why a case against her was even pursued. As the judges on the appellate court said, there was only the “thinest of evidence” against her.
So why would a US Attorney – who normally only bring forth airtight cases – pursue a case with such “thin” evidence? It was part of a broader goal that we’re learning more and more about as the US Attorney scandal moves forward: accuse Democratic candidates of voter fraud and corruption to scare voters into not voting for them. And it’s starting to look like it took place in Wisconsin as well.
Consider this press release a month before last years election:
“Election fraud and voting rights abuses dilute the worth of votes honestly cast. They also corrupt the essence of our representative form of government. As crimes against both the individual and the government, they will be dealt with promptly and aggressively.” – United States Attorney Steven M. Biskupic, October 17th 2006
Why would the US Attorney’s office put a dedicated Assistant United States Attorney on the case of voter fraud when there’s never been any substantial proof of voter fraud in Wisconsin just weeks before a tight election?
Why was US Attorney Biskupic so focused on the Georgia Thompson case, again in the middle of a tight election, especially considering the strength of the case he had against her?
I’m not saying right now that US Attorney Biskupic was unethical or did anything against the law at this point, because frankly the evidence doesn’t support it at this point in time.
And on a side note, that what separates me from many of the right wing rabid conservative bloggers out there, they’d have already gone off the deep end calling for resignations and using their media monopoly to push the story even further. I’m just asking questions and admitting that all the facts aren’t yet in.
However, the questions need to be asked about why US Attorney Biskupic seemed intent on pursuing a weak case involving the Democratic administration during an election cycle, and what if any role his focus on non-existent voter fraud had anything to do with Attorney General Gonzales firing other US Attorney’s who didn’t share his zeal in prosecuting non-existent crimes.
I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI with my wife Jen, our daughter Emerson, and sons Carter and Colton.
