From the Mixed-up Files of Brian W. Blanchard

As promised, here are more documents from the mixed-up files of Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard.

The documents include: Blanchard's notes from several meetings with former Assembly Democratic Caucus Director, Tanya Bjork; a series of emails between Bjork and Wisconsin Voter Education Fund Treasurer, Ron Legro; an email between Rich Judge and Ron Legro; bank statements; wire transfers and other correspondences. Legro who is currently employed as a Community Relations Officer for Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) received immunity from prosecution for his cooperation. The funny thing is that Legro's testimony did not lead to the prosecution of other people involved. People like former State Representative Shirley Krug, Tanya Bjork or her successor Rich Judge. Judge is currently working as the Campaign Manager for Governor Doyle’s re-election.

During an interview with Bjrok on 02/20/2002 (pages 1-7) Blanchard discusses Bjork's "handoff" of WVEF to Rich Judge when she left the Caucus. Bjork said the transition of duties would have been no big deal since Judge knew about everything going on anyway. Blanchard showed Bjrok a document marked Exhibit 43, an email between Rich Judge and Ron Legro dated May 30, 2002. Only one page of the email is included here (page 72). I can’t help but wonder what was on the other page.

In another email between Bjrok and Legro on February 23, 2001 (page 63), Bjork assures Legro that she will forward IRS paperwork for WVEF to Rich Judge to take care of. Pages 50 and 51 include an email regarding the wire transfer of $312,000 from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) to WVEF and bank documentation of the transaction.

Now we know exactly what Rich Judge was doing from the Fall of 2000 until the Spring of 2002 ----helping to operate an illegal independent expenditure organization that laundered over $300,000 from the DLCC to the WVEF ---- all from his state capitol office.

Given the time and expense Blanchard invested in collecting testimony and supporting documentation, why wasn’t anyone charged in connection with the blatantly illegal activities of WVEF the same way Chuck Chvala and Doug Burnette were charged for their involvement with Independent Citizens for Democracy? Is too late for justice?

Why was Ron Legro given immunity when his cooperation did not lead the prosecution of other people? Was Legro given immunity in exchange for his silence?

Inquiring minds want to know.