Milwaukee DA and GAB News Conference

UPDATE: TMJ4, FOX 6, and WISN preempt regular programming to air news conference.

Crazy.
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UPDATE: This is the big mystery?

Railroad executive charged with campaign law violations

A major donor to Gov. Scott Walker was charged Monday with funneling more than $60,000 in illegal campaign contributions through his railroad employees during the last election.

William Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co., has agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts - one for exceeding the campaign contribution limits and a second for giving company and personal funds to others so they could make political donations. Individuals can give no more than $10,000 to gubernatorial candidates.

Under the deal, prosecutors are asking that Gardner be sentenced to two years' probation.

"Because he was cooperative and accepted responsibility at the outset - providing much of the evidence against himself - we are not recommending jail time," said Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Landgraf, who investigates election and campaign matters.

Although Milwaukee prosecutors handled the case, the charges were filed in Washington County, where Gardner lives. Each of the two felony counts carries a maximum penalty of 3 ½ years of combined prison and extended supervision and a $10,000 fine.

Gardner issued a statement Monday acknowledging his mistakes.

In that written statement, the 63-year-old railroad executive said he didn't initially realize that what he and others were doing was improper. The criminal complaint says Gardner took several steps to conceal the scheme and the illegal contributions came to light only when a former friend of Gardner's alerted state officials.

"I made and asked others to make these contributions, and I am responsible for having the company reimburse some individuals," Gardner stated. "My actions were against the law and wrong, and I take full responsibility."

A spokesman for Walker said he had no comment on the matter. His campaign received the vast majority of the illegal campaign contributions.

Last year, Walker returned more than $43,000 in donations to Gardner and a handful of his company workers after the railroad official informed state regulators that he had been using company funds to reimburse his workers for their campaign contributions. The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee also has forfeited $3,500 in donations from Gardner.

Why all the hype?

This is the topic of the big news conference?

This is the "significant investigation"?

Wow. This is up there with Geraldo Rivera's live televised opening of Al Capone's vault.
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We know there will be a joint news conference by the Milwaukee County DA Office and the Government Accountability Board today. It's about a "significant investigation."

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The state Government Accountability Board and Milwaukee County district attorney's office has scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the results of a "significant investigation."

No details were given about the investigation.

The news conference is scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday at the Government Accountability Board office in Madison.

What's this about?

Can we have a clue?

Does it have something to do with Colonel Mustard with the rope in the Billiard Room?

Who knows?

Jessica Arp tweets:

Director of Government Accountability Board confirms tomorrows investigation announcement is NOT related to last week's election.

So, we know that the announcement is not about the election.

Maybe it's about Professor Plum.