Caucus Scandal News Links – 2002

Below are links to Caucus Scandal-related news articles published in 2002, the second year of the Wisconsin Caucus Scandal. Use the menu on the left to view other years or to return to the CaucusScandal.COM Home page. Please report bad links and links that should be added.

January 2002: Caucuses gone, but aides stay in Legislature (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/2/02); Caucuses get new life with Senate clerk (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/3/02); Campaign funds can pay caucus fines (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/4/02); Bill would ban swapping influence for cash (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/8/02); Democrats will try to stop surreptitious Assembly decisions (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/8/02); Amid state budget crisis, legal fees growing (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/10/02); Ethics Board did not investigate caucus allegations, judge says (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/11/02); Judge signals doubts on board inquiry (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/11/02); Watchdog group subpoenas 2 over bills (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/AP, 1/18/02); Judge sets hearing on opening records (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/22/02); Judge to rule Feb. 18 on newspapers’ notes (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/25/02)
February 2002: Support softens for paying legal fees (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/3/02); Jensen aide granted caucus immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/5/02); Senate to pay caucus tab, for now (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/5/02); Caucus battle takes bitter turn on floor (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/7/02); Chvala, Jensen reject subpoena (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/AP, 2/7/02); 16th person granted inquiry immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/8/02); Caucus case’s timeline tough to predict (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/9/02); Journalists won’t testify in records lawsuit (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/18/02)
March 2002: State caucus probe believed to now include Assembly Democrats (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/AP, 3/1/02); Caucus probe judge gives ex-aide immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/13/02); Immunity granted in caucus inquiry (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/13/02); Legal bill at $523,018 in probe of caucuses (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/15/02); The heat is on Chvala and Jensen (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/19/02); Chvala accused of using taxpayer money for legal fees (Badger Herald, 3/20/02); Legal fees would be hard to recover (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/20/02); Chvala repays legal fees to state (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/21/02); Chvala aide gets immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/27/02)
April 2002: Staffers with immunity give state legal bills of $75,000 (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/20/02)
May 2002: Caucus legal bills ordered released (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/3/02); Release names in state lawyer-fee case, judge says (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/4/02); Doyle tells clerks to heed judge (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/6/02); Ruling forces name disclosure in caucus scandal (Badger Herald, 5/6/02); Clerks say they’ll release legal bills (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/7/02); Senator calls for resignation amid caucus scandal (Badger Herald, 5/7/02); Clerks to turn over legal bills (Badger Herald, 5/8/02); Lawmakers praise name release (Badger Herald, 5/9/02); Lawmakers’ tabs revealed in scandal (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/10/02); Burke quits race for attorney general (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/11/02); Taxpayers paying legal bills for 5 legislators, 59 others (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/11/02); Burke’s words contradict his actions (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/13/02); Investigators pursue Senate GOP aides (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/13/02); Democrats ask Jensen to stop paying legal fees (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/16/02); Democrats urge end to paying caucus legal bills (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/16/02); June eyed for decision on Chvala in caucus case (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/20/02); Any Capitol indictments may be weeks away (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/21/02); Clerk let lawyer keep caucus client secret (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/21/02); More Assembly aides have legal bills paid (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/22/02); Treasurer chided on legal bill memo (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/24/02); 3 more staffers submit bills (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/28/02)
June 2002: Skindrud: Real job of caucuses well known (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/11/02); Group asks Doyle to withdraw from investigation into caucuses (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/12/02); Burke says he did nothing wrong (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/24/02); Speakers fault ethics ‘sinkhole’ (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/24/02); ‘Pay-for-play’ no fun for state taxpayers (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Burke bio (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Burke charged with 18 felonies (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/26/02); Burke charged with 18 felonies (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Burke’s lawyers’ response (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Complaint: Burke manipulated payroll (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Legislators convicted of felony would be removed from office (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Observers: Burke charges may be only the beginning (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); The charges in Burke case (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/26/02); Burke accused of soliciting in Capitol (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/27/02); Candidacy made Burke focus of probe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/27/02); Foes, allies empathize with Burke (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/27/02); Lawmakers Get Back To Work After Burke Charges (WISC-TV, 6/28/02); Who’s next in caucus probe? (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/29/02)
July 2002: Burke says constitution protects him (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/1/02); Burke Fights Felony Charges (WISC-TV, 7/2/02); From Senate floor, Burke rips prosecutor (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/3/02); Burke urged to step down from finance role (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/7/02); High court asked to review caucus cases (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/AP, 7/8/02); Immunity deal signals broader probe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/10/02); Scandal legal bills hit $680,000 (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/11/02); Burke’s defense likely to fail, experts say (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/14/02); Second Foti aide granted immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/17/02); 2 others granted immunity in investigation (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/18/02); Doyle calls for ‘clean sweep of leadership’ (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/26/02); State high court takes caucus scandal case (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/29/02)
August 2002: DA’s case against Burke to proceed (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/1/02); Judge rejects Burke’s claim of immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/5/02); Records confirm Ethics Board didn’t investigate (Wisconsin State Journal, 8/8/02); Chvala: I Paid For George Challenge (WISC-TV, 8/20/02); Supreme Court asked to halt caucus probe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/20/02); Quotes From Democrat Debate (WISC-TV, 8/21/02); Democrats Debate, Slam Chvala (WISC-TV, 8/22/02); Capitol finger-pointing (Badger Herald, 8/30/02)
September 2002: Judge defends decision to disqualify lawyers (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/3/02); Caucus scandal costs (Badger Herald, 9/5/02); Time sheets allowed state workers to blur public, private duties (Wisconsin State Journal, 9/5/02); Blanchard seeks caucus-case ruling in possible conflicts (Wisconsin State Journal, 9/11/02); Judge orders probe of caucus prosecutor (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/11/02); Dane County DA to be investigated (Badger Herald, 9/12/02); Burke wants special prosecutor for D.A. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/16/02); No conflict in caucus probe, DA says (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/17/02); Blanchard can continue caucus query (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/18/02); Hearing to investigate district attorney begins (Badger Herald, 9/18/02); Lawyers claim judge shouldn’t act alone (Badger Herald, 9/19/02); Blanchard can stay (Badger Herald, 9/20/02); Black senses ‘eerie calm’ over caucus legal fees (Wisconsin State Journal, 9/23/02); Black questions effect of election on caucus investigation (Badger Herald, 9/26/02); Watchdog group finalizes caucus lawsuit (Badger Herald, 9/27/02)
October 2002: Won’t pay more legal fees, 3 told (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/3/02); Judge kills lawsuit, allows payment of caucus legal fees (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/7/02); Judge won’t kill caucus legal fees (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/7/02); Another site focuses on caucus scandal (see second story) (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/8/02); Judge rules state can pay caucus-scandal legal fees (Badger Herald, 10/8/02); Chvala goes to court to stall investigation (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/15/02); Capitol investigation timeline (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/02); Caucus Scandal: More Charges Expected (WISC-TV, 10/16/02); Chvala will face criminal charges (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/02); Democrats hope Chvala will resign (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/02); Doyle challenges caucus fees (Badger Herald, 10/16/02); In past 17 months, allegations swirl around Chvala (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/02); Investigation at a glance (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/02); Past scandals: Despite reputation, Wisconsin has a few skeletons in closet (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/02); Thompson Pleased by Chvala Charges; Asks for Republican Charges (Ed Thompson for Governor Press Release, 10/16/02); Charges in caucus scandal expected (Badger Herald, 10/17/02); Chvala charged with extortion (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/17/02); Chvala faces 20 felonies (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/17/02); Chvala’s statement (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/17/02); Democrats rush to fill leadership void (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/17/02); Jensen expected to be charged next (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/17/02); Senators eye Decker for Chvala’s post (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/17/02); Severity of Chvala charges stuns many (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/17/02); Chvala steps down from leadership after charges filed (Badger Herald, 10/18/02); Decker: I’ve got the votes to lead Senate (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); For Jensen, 3 felony counts (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); Friday’s developments (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); Governor calls for overhaul of ethics laws (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); In light of charges, two top Republicans say they will quit (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); Jensen quotes (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); Jensen’s statement (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/18/02); Jensen, Foti charged with felonies (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/18/02); Legislators seek to fill leadership vacuum (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/18/02); Scandal heats up governor race rhetoric (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/18/02); Charges brought against Jensen, Foti, Ladwig (Badger Herald, 10/21/02); Democrats remove Chvala as leader (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/21/02); Leadership change seen as Capitol gain (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/21/02); Tommy Thompson Calls Caucus Scandal ‘Sad’ (WISN-TV, 10/21/02); 2 return money tied to Chvala (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/24/02); Accused lawmakers go to court (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/24/02); Chvala, Jensen and Foti appear in court (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/24/02); Court hearings proceed in caucus scandal (Badger Herald, 10/25/02); Appeals court denies Burke’s claim to legislative immunity (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/31/02); Group files recall papers against Chvala (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/31/02)
November 2002: Petition to remove Chvala going strong (Badger Herald, 11/13/02); Pressure’s on Panzer to get rid of former caucus staff members (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/19/02)
December 2002: Chvala recall may need more signatures (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/3/02); Lawmakers seek dismissal of charges (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/13/02); Chvala recall coming up (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/19/02); Justices struggle over secrecy in caucus probe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/22/02)