Comments on: Why did Timothy Russell’s lawyer tip-off Sykes?

By: Gomez

Gomez — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:55:09 +0000

Grand Jury investigations are suppose to be secret for the following reasons: (1) to ensure that the grand jury is free to deliberate without outside pressure; (2) to prevent subornation of perjury or witness tampering prior to a subsequent trial: (3) to encourage people with information about a crime to speak freely; and (4) to protect the innocent accused from disclosure of the fact that he or she was under investigation.
This secrecy does not apply to either to Sykes or to Lawyer Maistelman because they are not part of this Grand Jury process. That being said: Lawyer Maistelman is an Officer of the Court and as such has certain obligations. For instance; he knew that the information which he forwarded to Sykes was suppose to be secret and suppose to be safeguarded. Lawyer Sykes had two obligations: (1) NOT to further disseminate the information (which he did) and (2) to disclose both the informant and the information to the DA and to the Judge (which he didn’t). In addition, if he is not actively helping the DA to investigate the leak then he is probably obstructing.
Lawyer Maistelman deserves a sound slap on the wrist from the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation. All those who feel lawyers should have ethics are welcome to join me in filling a grievance (http://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/lawyerreg/file.htm) What say you James, you want honest courts, don’t you. If enough of us file grievances maybe they’ll give him a good knuckle rapping

By: affinis

affinis — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:08:21 +0000

Sykes was obsessing about and trying to discredit the John Doe investigation prior to the 1/22/12 Maistelman e-mail.
e.g. a few old tweets:

@sykescharlie Charles Sykes
The great Liberal Hope: unhinged WI Dem spokesman now floating rumors that Gov. Walker is target of Doe probe by Dem. Milwaukee DA.
11/02/2011

@sykescharlie Charles Sykes
Tweet from GAB employee…. Mickey Mouse? “@buergd: Ruh-roh… John Doe investigation on the move: http://t.co/pyhMrhi8”
12/15/2011

@sykescharlie Charles Sykes
@NoQuarterr Did you hear all the questions I asked about the John Doe? Or did you just rely on lefty bloggers for your info?
12/15/2011

@brewcitybrawler BrewCity Brawler
@sykescharlie already whining about how media will cover latest John doe update #wiunion #perpwalker
01/05/2012

@sykescharlie Charles Sykes
Democrats trying to raise campaign cash off John Doe probe of current and former aides to @GovWalker- JSOnline http://t.co/9ZZ0vgeh
01/11/2012

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:04:29 +0000

I am so sorry because I did not get this until very late and I have to be brief. I am astonished that the WSJ is actually still in circulation since to me the difference between the 2 papers are stunning–especially when we would both agree that Dane Co. is rumored to be so liberal. One example I could give is that the MJS actually put the now infamous video of Walker telling the insipid Diane Hendricks that he would “Divide and Conquer” —up on their website and did a fine story on it with a variety of journalists. Here it is http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/barrett-walker-at-odds-over-divide-and-conquer-union-remark-oi5coda-151148935.html Amazingly, the WSJ actually did little on the story and when people asked why they were not putting the video up on their madison.com website they came up with the ridiculous–if not completely hilarious excuse—that they did NOT have the space on their website. LOL!!! Lastly, I would honestly say that I have seen as a Madisonian—WHOLE protests—completely absent from the pages of the WSJ—Your assertions are correct about Journal Communications WTMJ and the MJS are accurate but I would also say that there stock has recently taken a huge hit (announced right after the recall)–and the Wisconsin State Journal is owned by Lee Enterprises who has been tied to anti union website–and their editorial board and publisher to the Tea Party http://publius9.blogspot.com/2012/04/anti-union-website-sponsored-by.html My own opinion is that the WSJ “journalists” usually pull from AP or cut and paste other journalist’s work and call it their own—since these stories “appear” only after people like Bice of the MJS actually wrote them.:) Thanks for your article by the way—Food for thought.

By: bluecheddar

bluecheddar — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:06:10 +0000

Gretchen – Sykes was not “a leak”. He was a recipient of at least one leak. WI State Journal and MJS are two very different beasts. MJS, last I knew was generally considered more right of center than WI State J. and had a greater circulation in the state. It’s also significant that it’s owned by Journal Communications along with Sykes’ station and right-leaning WTMJ-4 TV in Milwaukee. I’m happy to be updated on WI State J. vs. MJS – not exactly saying you’re wrong, but, what shows you that WI State J. is more Tea Party than MJS?

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:45:08 +0000

Boy I hope nobody calls me any names lol but I agree with John Foust. The interesting thing here is that the blogger is calling out the MJS when we live in Madison that has a true Tea Party newspaper in the WSJ–so let’s be fair—the MSJ has many great journalists Bice among them—we have nothing but the WSJ who has been publishing propaganda since the very beginning and endorsing Walker not once–but for the last 18 months. My primary belief is that John’s point is absolutely dead on— the reality is that this attorney (whether he is a Dem or Rep) clearly wanted to better his clients chances. End of story. What IS interesting to me is how Sykes spent MONTHS trying to discredit the DAs office and now we know that HE was the leak. Living between Madison and Milwaukee I am completely amazed that we are not talking more about Sykes—who obviously is on the Koch Brother’s payroll as is Screech McKenna. Lastly, Matthew—you just did what you just accused the other poster of doing:) SOLIDARITY! FORWARD!

By: bluecheddar

bluecheddar — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:30:26 +0000

James- Come on. I’m not presenting myself as an expert in all things Milwaukee. Play the game like a grown-up and at least give me a good story from your own two swift and typing hands answering the question I posed to you. It’s pretty easy – -see John Foust’s comment for how to play. Otherwise “Keep it at that” sounds so similar to “Nothin’ to see here folks”.

By: James

James — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:17:36 +0000

You really are lost. You intimated that Capper’s self promotion is what moved him to say these things—You are not only wrong but out of line since Madisonians are WELL aware that his blog is the authority on it. If you don’t want people to comment, don’t waste space with this stupidity—You clearly are grasping at straws and your blog is being posted in Milwaukee as an embarrassment. You do great job describing Madison politics—keep it at that—and that’s the truth.

By: bluecheddar

bluecheddar — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:45:35 +0000

I just read it. It presumes that Maistelman got the info from Cog Dis. No surprise given that it is the writer himself saying that. Nice bit of self promotion,there. You’ll also notice that Cog Dis never says a questioning word about the attorney that assisted him in his hour of need. Why would he? He is not going to bite the hand that’s ptotected him. The post you directed me to does nothing to address why Dem loyal Maistelman is repping Russell — which should be a significant question. Could you address that? That would be YOUR homework before commenting on my blog again. Feel free to avoid my “nonsense” if you don’t understand it.

By: Matthew Schauenburg

Matthew Schauenburg — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:16:26 +0000

I would just like to leave a quick comment to the person who posted the above comment, that being the first one in regards to this posting. Although I had a little trouble following this article, it does contain solid information from reliable sources.
We bloggers/citizen journalists do not have paid staff and we have day jobs. Just because Cheddar was not able to simplify this to the level where those with average or lower IQ’s can not easily digest it, does not mean the posting is not valid.
Your emotional attack on the author is very comparable to the vitriol and rantings that one would expect from some tea party member that couldn’t complete high school.

By: John Foust

John Foust — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:27:03 +0000

Maybe Maistelman wants clients with deeper pockets. Maybe he was using every mechanism possible to defend his client by spreading doubt in the media.