Posted on 01/24/2006 3:43:45 PM PST by flashbunny
Doyle official charged in travel case
A state Department of Administration official has been indicted in connection with a contract awarded to Adelman Travel.
Georgia Thompson, 55, of Waunakee, has been charged with two federal felonies: causing misapplication of funds and participating in a scheme to defraud the state of Wisconsin of the right to honest services. Thompson was on a team of evaluators that reviewed bids for a contract to be the state’s “travel partner.”
The indictment alleges that Thompson:
- Intentionally inflated the scores of Adelman Travel, which was in competition with other agencies to be named the state’s “travel partner”
- Suggested that committee members change scores when evaluating the agencies.
- Prevented the contract from being awarded to another agency despite the other committee members’ unanimous decision.
Adelman ultimately was awarded the contract, which had been the subject of political debate and investigation.
If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
-By Gina Barton
Thanks, FlashBunny! I just KNEW she was going to be the one to take the fall! Doyle will remain pure as the driven slush, I'm sure... :(
Belling was just talking about this...the US attorney doesn't play games, and she should know that now. Now Biskupic just needs to dangle immunity for ratting out those up the food chain.
What's interesting is this is among the least of the Doyle administration's unethical behavior. He began in the first month of his administration by negotiating a sweetheart deal for Indian tribe casinos which was to last in perpetuity. This only a few weeks after the tribes had donated a million dollars to his campaign. Subsequently the state supreme court overturned the deal.
Bada-Bing!
oops- bisckupic wasn't the US attorney in this case - it was handled by the other one in the state.
Well, it's obviously up to us. This wasn't on our local 6pm news...just glowing comments about Doyle over in Iraq glad-handing the troops. *Rolleyes*
Some days I really, really hate this state. But then I remember that there are literally MILLIONS of others living here, just like us, that are sick to death of this chit.
The November elections can't come fast enough for me!
Count me among the millions! Scott Walker to the rescue!!!
You go, Girl! Vote early and vote often. That's what the Dimowits do, right? Time for we Pubbies to bring out the big guns, IMHO.
I really think 2006 & 2008 are going to be watershed years for our state. :)
I haven't been posting all the pro-Walker stuff yet. Eventhough I'm a total political junkie, I don't want to burn up my "street cred" yet, LOL!
Well... it's a start.
Biskupic's name is on the indictment. Are you sure he's not handling it?
hehehe
I only heard this on the radio several hours ago, so I'm trying to go on memory:
It may be that biskupic is handling the grand jury part, and the madison area US attorney will handle the actual criminal case - based on the fact that lyn adelman is the federal judge in milwaukee, and this relates to adelman travel (owned by his brother), and biskupic has to try cases in front of lyn adelman.
hopefully that makes sense and is close to what belling said.
Finally; one indicted who is not a Republican. Thank God.
The web says it's "Stephen P. Sinnott" for western wisconsin.
Not knowing anything about sinnott, I'd rather have biskupic. But for the trial it looks like they want to avoid any potential conflict of interest with bisckupic / adelman.
You mean to tell me Adelman is the only federal judge we have that can hear cases in the Eastern District of Wisconsin?
Guess I'm just thinking out loud and HOPING this is finally Doyle's undoing. Can only hope this isn't resolved anytime soon and the trial is oh, let's say in about 9 months? lol
One other thing...am I the only one that thinks Doyle's trip to Iraq was suspiciously timed? Kind of hard to comment on possible criminal activity in your office when you're off pretending to be concerned about the brave men and women you're supposed to represent. Shamelesss, IMHO!
"You mean to tell me Adelman is the only federal judge we have that can hear cases in the Eastern District of Wisconsin?"
No, but bisckupic and adelmen have a lot of dealings together on many cases. Taking the actual case out of biskupic's hands means that there's no conflict in the future (or with current cases) between biskupic and adelman.
Nope. The timing of this "secret" trip is very interesting. Even the local media didn't know he was going until he was already in Baghdad...and they're usually at his left hip waiting for pearls of wisdom to fall from his lips. *Rolleyes*
This morning from the AP:
Wisconsin official indicted over contract that some have
linked to donations to governor
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- An official in Gov. Jim Doyle's administration was indicted on two felony counts Tuesday for her role in awarding a state travel contract to a company whose executives donated $20,000 to Doyle's campaign.
The federal indictment alleges that Georgia Thompson, chief of the Department of Administration's procurement bureau, tried to give her bosses political advantage and help her own job security.
Doyle's fundraising has become an issue in the Democrat's re-election bid this fall, with Republicans charging ethical lapses.
The indictment alleges wrongdoing by no one but Thompson.
Doyle was in Iraq visiting troops Tuesday. Thompson and her attorney did not return phone calls.
Thompson, 55, who was hired before Doyle took office in 2003, served on a committee that awarded a contract to Adelman Travel as part of an effort to cut travel costs. The indictment said she inflated the company's scores used to award the contract.
Questions were raised this summer after media reports that Adelman's CEO donated $10,000 to Doyle before the contract went into effect. An Adelman board member gave another $10,000 afterward, finance reports show.
Thompson faces as many as 20 years in prison if convicted of fraud and misapplication of funds.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/cgi-bin/news/news.cgi?category=Wisconsin
Diana here: No matter who tries her, she's taking the fall. They won't touch Doyle, but this'll make great campaign fodder. You watchin' Mr. Walker? Mr. Green? ;)
That was one of the first things I thought too. Isn't convenient that he is in Iraq just as the indictment was announced.
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