I hope I don’t scare Mr. Eric O’Keefe with this, as well, but a very interesting trial is taking place in a Federal Courthouse in Wisconsin.
Listen to audio of today’s arguments: Eric O’Keefe v. John Chisholm #JohnDoe #ScottWalker by blue cheddar • September 9, 2014
I do not expect to be writing anything on this tonight (the brain is too fried) but I will be adding links to stories penned by others as they come out. Update: I added some notes from Part One at the end. Update: Federal judges question why John Doe issue before them By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel Updated: 6:08 p.m. These are arguments made today in front of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on the John Doe Investigation…. [AUDIO and partial transcript]
Here’s what the Journal-Sentinel says is at stake:
John Fund and Eric O’Keefe at O’Keefe’s now-defunct “Sammies”
If the appeals court determines the issues at stake in the investigation should be decided by state judges instead of federal ones, it could cut two ways. Such an order could undo a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa that stopped the investigation, but it would also leave the matter with a state judge who has separately effectively stopped the probe, as well. If prosecutors lose before the appeals panel, they risk being held personally liable for violating the free speech rights of the Wisconsin Club for Growth and one of its directors, Eric O’Keefe.
And here’s what the sidebar on that Journal-Sentinal Article says:
Joseph {Heartland Institute] Bast and Eric [Americans for Limited Government, Sam Adams Alliance, Wisconsin Club for Growth, US Term Limits, etc. etc.] O’Keefe, as Shimer Trustees
About John DoeSeparate but related criminal investigations initiated by Milwaukee County prosecutors have examined events and activities during Scott Walker’s time as Milwaukee County executive and as governor. Prosecutors have conducted the probes under the state’s “John Doe” statutes that grant extraordinary powers to investigators to compel testimony and maintain secrecy. The first John Doe investigation, begun in 2010, led to convictions of six Walker aides, associates or appointees on charges ranging from theft from a veteran’s group to misconduct in office. The second Doe probe, launched in 2012, looked into coordination between conservative political organizations and Walker and other candidates during recall elections. The second probe was halted in May 2014 by a federal judge who agreed that the investigation denied one of the conservative groups’ its free-speech rights. No charges have been filed in the second investigation. Walker has denied wrongdoing. See full coverage in John Doe special section
“Gotcha” Videographer James “Pimp” O’ Keefe and Eric O’Keefe @ right-online-dinner (relation unknown)
And, if you can appreciate this little Perry Mason moment, then perhaps you will have an insight into just how tricksy these hobbitses isss my preciousesss …
O’Keefe speaking at Phoenix Tea Party Patriots on the “Health Care Compact” or, ending Obamacare
[* Click here to see who he’s in bed with, including Ralph Reed and our old pal, Foster Friess.]
1:00:46 Easterbrook: Do you concede that coordination of issue advocacy with campaign finance committees is unlawful under Wisconsin law? I thought you were denying it. 1:00:58 Uhh. We do deny that. Easterbrook: Well, then let me tell you what the problem is. If what your client has done is simply not illegal under Wisconsin law at all why should a federal court issue a constitutional-based injunction? Seems to me to get the cart ahead of the horse to enjoin an application of something that may not represent Wisconsin law at all. Advisory opinion leaps to mind. But normally before we need – before we do something – we need to pin down exactly what state law is. Now in our most recent Wisconsin campaign finance case – Wisconsin Right to Life against Borland from earlier this yr. – we were able to pin everything down and then assess its constitutionality it took some difficulty. But here it seems you’re asking us to decide a federal constitutional issue even though you’re simultaneously denying that Wisconsin campaign finance law presents that constitutional issue. That gives me a serious problem.
Arguably if not a ‘father’ then certainly a ‘godfather’ of the Tea Party Movement, if you need a semi-complete précis on Eric O’Keefe, et al, see last week’s “In Which I Scare Eric O’Keefe” (31 AUG 14) wherein I was named in one of O’Keefe/ Wisconsin Club for Growth’s filings, and, appropriately, “Who Is Behind Wisconsin Club For Growth?” (2-22-2011) and last month’s “How Mitch McConnell sells out the American People to Kochs + Cronies.” (27 Aug 2014).
This is important stuff, and getting short shrift in the national media, as almost ALL important stuff is.
The first “Tea Party” Bus Tour in 2009.
This is where the bloggers outshine the current “legitimate” media with their endless gossip-fests. Well done, Blue Cheddar! Courage. ========================
Mr. Williams has a lively blog His Vorpal Sword. This is cross-posted from his blog.
A writer, published author, novelist, literary critic and political observer for a quarter of a quarter-century more than a quarter-century, Hart Williams has lived in the American West for his entire life. Having grown up in Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico, a survivor of Texas and a veteran of Hollywood, Mr. Williams currently lives in Oregon, along with an astonishing amount of pollen. He has a lively blog, His Vorpal Sword (no spaces) dot com.