So wait….it’s now illegal to investigate possible illegal campaign activity?
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa on Tuesday ordered a halt to the ongoing John Doe investigation, siding with Wisconsin Club for Growth in ruling that the investigation into alleged illegal campaign coordination is hampering the group’s free-speech rights.
Randa ordered prosecutors to “cease all activities related to the investigation, return all property seized in the investigation from any individual or organization and permanently destroy all copies of information and other materials obtained through the investigation.”
In addition, Randa ordered that Wisconsin Club for Growth, board member Eric O’Keefe and any others under investigation “are hereby relieved of any and every duty under Wisconsin law to cooperate further with defendants‘ investigation.”
While I’m not a legal expert I’d imagine Judge Randa’s ruling could be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based out of Chicago, provided the prosecutors in the John Doe investigation want to appeal the ruling.
Thanks Zach.
Judge Randa’s decision is a ringing endorsement for Obamacare. According to his decision, the First Amendment protects the right of oligopolies, such as the Health Insurers (WellPoint/Blue Cross, Cigna, United….), to buy both parties to pass legislation which makes the IRS their sales force and compels U.S. citizens to buy LOUSY coverage. As a bonus, he says the oligopolies and the oligarchs can use non-profits as shields.
OT, that’s a federal judge, referring in his ruling to groups who want government to “force birth,” as “conservatives.”
Happy days are here again: “John Doe’ ruling may land in U.S. Supreme Court”
http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/john-doe-ruling-may-land-in-u-s-supreme-court/article_ee2a7562-ab65-5ae9-a717-8788fec6c922.html
Applicable to Randa et al: “…perhaps the most profound effect of the ‘judicial pinball’ could be increased cynicism about government and the supposed independence of the judiciary.”
http://host.madison.com/news/local/in-case-you-missed-it-one-important-takeaway-from-the/article_4ccddb34-d7c3-11e3-816f-001a4bcf887a.html
WTF; why would Randa have the evidence destroyed prior to exhausting the appeal process?
1. Incompetent
2. A member of the KKK (Koch Klan Korrupted)
3. Cuz he can
4. All of the above.
Did someone say the judiciary is the last line in defense of democracy? If so, we have lost with the likes of Randa.