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Investigating a Corrupt Prosecutor

by TChris

Former District Attorney Joseph Paulus is in prison after swapping cash for dismissals of drunk driving charges (TalkLeft background here and here). But officials have been less willing to investigate the prosecutor's other -- and more serious -- misdeeds.

Bill Lennon, elected to replace Paulus, doesn't understand why the Wisconsin Department of Justice has been slow to investigate reports that Paulus' ethical lapses may have resulted in convictions of innocent defendants. Among other matters, Lennon wants to investigate:

allegations of recently missing evidence from the Oshkosh Police Department in the 1990 Mark Price murder conviction; and allegations that a transcript in the 1999 John Maloney murder case prosecuted by Paulus was altered to exclude "exculpatory statements" by the defendant. ... [T]he probe will look at allegations against Paulus, including "getting people convicted who may not have been guilty of crimes, taking bribes, manufacturing evidence, hiding evidence."

Lennon deserves credit for pursuing these matters, but why isn't the state's Department of Justice taking the lead?

"I understood that the attorney general's office was going to keep us informed and allow us to be minimally involved, and to date that just hasn't happened," the Republican district attorney said. "I don't know what the state of the attorney general's investigation is. They haven't shared anything with us. They haven't kept us up to date -- they have basically put a block on everything."

Perhaps the state's attorney general should spend less time grandstanding and more time trying to recitify the damage caused by this corrupt public official.

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    Re: Investigating a Corrupt Prosecutor (none / 0) (#1)
    by wishful on Fri Jan 07, 2005 at 01:14:02 PM EST
    It is amazing to me that prosecutor-types and their bettors, who are constantly exposed to the foibles of the human condition in all walks of life, think that they alone are immune from criminal acts of any seriousness. Or at least they think that they must portray themselves as such, as if the public doesn't know better.

    Re: Investigating a Corrupt Prosecutor (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 07, 2005 at 01:43:24 PM EST
    Paulus used his position to extract cash from defendants in more than just the drunk driving cases he was charged for. An assistant DA was also involved prior to working for him; he turned state's evidence, which allowed Paulus to be convicted. I think the reason they aren't sharing information with the DA is that Lautenschlager used to be DA in Winnebago county, where all of this happened. I'm sure there's a level of distrust in sharing any info with that office, considering other assistant DA's were also involved. Let's just say i know from personal experience on this one.

    Re: Investigating a Corrupt Prosecutor (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 07, 2005 at 01:45:56 PM EST
    I should clarify that if the state DA is even investigating, the above would be why she wasn't sharing. I think this issue would probably expose more than even she would want to deal with, so there's reason for her not to investigate it.