Former Walker Aide Charged

The Democrats and their mouthpieces in the liberal media desperately want this story to be about Scott Walker.

The reality is it's not.

Sorry, Leftists.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, via Twitter:

Three individuals - including a former top aide to Gov. Scott Walker - were charged Thursday with felonies as part of the ongoing John Doe investigation into Walker staffers.

Tim Russell, a longtime Walker campaign and county staffer, was charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor count of embezzlement. One source said the charges are tied to Operation Freedom, an annual military appreciation day held at the zoo.

In 2010, Walker's county administration had asked prosecutors to investigate what had happened to $11,000 raised in 2007 for the event.

Russell's attorney, Michael Maistelman, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Also charged Thursday was Brian Pierick, Russell's longtime partner and a staffer at the state Department of Public Instruction, and Kevin Kavanaugh, Walker's appointee to the Milwaukee County Veteran Service Commission.

Kavanaugh is charged with five felonies for theft and fraudulent writings by a corporate officer. He was the treasurer of the Milwaukee Purple Heart chapter at the time of the dispute over the $11,000 for Operation Freedom.

Pierick, 48, was charged with two felony counts for child enticement. He is an office operations assistant at DPI dealing with education for homeless children and youth, according to the agency's website.

If these individuals are guilty of the charges, I hope they receive appropriate punishment for their crimes.

If they're guilty, their actions are deplorable. I'm glad they're being held accountable.

The liberal media are stressing the connection of the three people with Walker, rather than stressing that Walker suggested the investigation take place. No surprise there.

This case puts Walker in a positive light. He did the right thing. He didn't engage in any cover-up.

Here's a statement on the matter from Gov. Walker:

"My chief of staff at Milwaukee County, Tom Nardelli, brought to my attention concerns about a local veterans organization and funds collected several years ago for an event honoring veterans. Mr. Nardelli, with my support, asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney to investigate those concerns. We appreciate learning that the District Attorney's office investigated those concerns."

Walker expresses his disappointment with his former aides.

Gov. Scott Walker says he's "extremely disappointed" that his former longtime aide Tim Russell has been charged with felony embezzlement for allegedly stealing more than $21,000 from a group he ran that was supposed to help veterans and their families.

Walker was asked questions by reporters about the investigation during a conference call Thursday afternoon. Walked started, "I believe when looking at the news announced today that certain comes...in large part because of the initial concern raised by Tom Nardelli, my former chief of staff as to these funds."

The governor was then asked about his knowledge surrounding the John Doe investigation. He said, "The only contact we had was through Tom Nardelli quite some time ago in initially bringing this up. That time we didn't know who may or may not be involved. It was just our concern about the funds and what may or may not have happened with those."

Governor Walker was then asked about how this news would affect his recall election. "In the end people will realize it was my office at the time that brought this to the attention of the district attorney's office and we're thankful the DA acted."

Of course, Walker is "extremely disappointed." That's totally understandable.

If you look at the facts here, there's nothing that should negatively impact Scott Walker's reputation. To the contrary, it shows that Walker seeks honesty and justice. His loyalty to a longtime associate stops when unethical and/or criminal activity is involved.