Badger Blogger and Real Debate Wisconsin report that Milwaukee County employee Christopher Liebenthal, aka "Capper," has been found to have engaged in "extensive political blogging" from his taxpayer-funded computer.
Citizens for Responsible Government put out a release stating that the "Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office concluded its investigation into the misuse of county resources for political purposes finding that Milwaukee County employee Christopher Liebenthal engaged in 'extensive political blogging' from his taxpayer-funded computer."
Liebenthal has been active in Milwaukee County First and AFSCME Local 48. He has blogged or maintained web pages for those groups as well as his own. Blogging under the name “Capper,” Liebenthal writes for two political blogs called Cognitive Dissidence and Whallah!
The District Attorney had earlier seized the Liebenthal computer from his county office based on a complaint issued by Orville Seymer of Citizens for Responsible Government. Despite the findings of “extensive political blogging” by the County DA’s technical forensic expert, the DA’s office declined to issue criminal charges citing a narrow interpretation of state statutes that would require such online activity to solicit a direct campaign contribution or service.
CRG spokesperson Chris Kliesmet added, “It is now clear and unequivocal that, despite his earlier claims to the contrary, Mr. Liebenthal is a prolific political blogger who “extensively” used a county computer to engage in this political activity.”
“After discussing the situation with the District Attorney’s office, it is also clear that they would prefer to see this handled as a county personnel matter rather than a criminal matter,” said Kliesmet. “The ethical standard and consequences of this manner of workplace misconduct has been established and Mr. Liebenthal’s actions constitute an extreme example.”
Liebenthal took taxpayer resources meant to care for those most in need and spent them on his own political crusades,” said Kliesmet. “He should own up to his illicit use of taxpayer property and time and resign.”
CRG intends to publish additional facts and data as they become available.
Before determining whether Liebenthal's resignation is in order, I think it's necessary to have more specifics on the nature of his "extensive political blogging."
That said, there is apparently no question that Liebenthal misused a taxpayer-funded computer.
Although the District Attorney's office won't be issuing criminal charges in the case, it's clear that Liebenthal engaged in inappropriate activity. Taxpayers should not be funding Liebenthal's online political activity. Period.
Calling Dan Bice...
Where's the article on Liebenthal's abuse? I assume that Bice is on the story, especially given the attention he gave to Darlene Wink, a Scott Walker staffer.
I find it hard to believe that when Bice was tracking IPs for his story on Wink he didn't come across other Milwaukee County IPs that deserved attention.
On my site, I have received highly partisan, Leftist comments in support of Democrats from individuals posting from city and county computers.
In some cases, when the commenting was excessive and harassing in nature, I've called out the "anonymous" individuals, asking how they have the time to be commenting on blog posts on the taxpayer's dime. I raise the question of the appropriateness of their behavior while on the job.
Other times, most often, I wouldn't mention anything to the individual poster but I would take note of the IPs and the source of the politicking.
The question: Was the purpose of Bice's report on Darlene Wink to embarrass Scott Walker or to uncover misuse of county funds?
At the very least, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel must devote some space to Liebenthal's misuse of a taxpayer-funded computer. Failure to do so will reveal just how low its journalistic and ethical standards are.
6 comments:
Considering that the DA's office hasn't made a statement, that CRG hasn't provided any response from the DA, that they've got an unattributed quote in their press release, and in examining the County's Internet use policy that does seem to allow personal use of the Internet, then no, I'd say it's not "apparently no question" that Capper broke the rules, and if he did, the right way to handle it is to let his boss handle it as a personnel matter.
Has there been any independent confirmation of any of the claims made in these recent CRG press releases? I haven't seen any.
For a group that's all about accountability and openness, they sure do seem shy about letting the public judge the raw documents. They never released their original complaint to the DA. For the timestamps they released, it was clear they hadn't even performed the simplest vetting against known furlough and County holidays.
Is the county's Internet use policy online?
Do you have a link?
I'd like to examine it.
As I've said before, since his “client” is obviously guilty, John Foust is trying desperately to make his accuser the issue. Frankly, I’d probably do the same if I had to defend Capper on this.
It seems to me that John Foust is throwing up a smokescreen and employing defensive tactics that do more to convince one of Capper's wrongdoing rather than providing any proof that he's not guilty.
What else can he do but raise questions about the CRG? His cover-up doesn't exonerate Capper. This deflection doesn't help him.
"...proof that he's not guilty."
Um, that's not how it works.
CRG, on the other hand, HAS made an accusation of guilt, and should therefore back it up. I too would like to see the source from which the words in quotation marks are taken.
By all means, if Capper broke the rules, let the process play out. But unless CRG can clearly demonstrate this, they are opening themselves up to a law suit.
"Um..."
You sound like Obama.
Foust has not made a convincing case that county employee Liebenthal wasn't involved in the misuse of a taxpayer-funded computer. He picks apart CRG press releases. So what?
A lack of criminal charges doesn't mean there was no wrongdoing. Frankly, it disturbs me that there isn't more transparency by the county on the matter.
FACT: Liebenthal's computer was seized.
I'd like a statement about the case from the DA's office.
Post a Comment