Evidence in Adelman Travel Case May Implicate Doyle & Marotta

Motions filed by Georgia Thompson’s defense reveal evidence of "phone calls placed by and between principals of Adelman Travel Group, Governor Doyle’s office and Wisconsin Department of Administration (“DOA”), including DOA Secretary Marc Marotta."

Thompson's attorney Stephen Hurley is asking the Judge to suppress this evidence along with testimony from members of the RFP selection panel who say Thompson appeared to be reacting to outside pressure when she encouraged members of the panel to change their scores in favor of Adelman Travel.

The motion sites the following quotes as examples:

"The perception among the committee members was so strong Thompson was being directed by outside forces to push for Adelman, they told her she didn’t have to do this if she was having a struggle.”

“There was something even more unusual going on than just Thompson’s unhappiness with the selection. It was the consensus of the other committee members there was some outside pressure driving Thompson.”

“Nettesheim believed that there were political reasons behind Thompson’s statement.”

If the defense’s motion fails, Thompson’s attorney may argue that she broke the law at the request of others and she was unaware that her actions were illegal.

I don’t know anyone who believes that Georgia Thompson went out on a limb for Adelman Travel on her own. The question is whether we’ll know who asked her to climb out there by the end of the trial.

In the meantime Governor Doyle should answer the following questions:

• Has the Governor hired an attorney to defend him in the on-going corruption investigation of his administration? Has Governor Doyle or his attorney spoken to state or federal authorities investigating corruption in his investigation?
  

• According to a defense motion, there is evidence of phone conversations between Governor Doyle and Adelman Travel officials. Did Governor Doyle ever discuss the travel contract with Adelman officials?
  

• According to a defense motion, there is evidence of phone conversations between Governor Doyle’s former DOA Secretary and current campaign chairman and Adelman Travel officials. Did Marc Marotta ever discuss the travel contract with Adelman officials? Marotta has said in the press that the travel contract “never registered on the radar of anyone in upper management.” Marotta said this despite the fact that a meeting took place in his office on October 18, 2004 to discuss the contract. Was Adelman Travel discussed during this meeting?

• DPW Chair Joe Wineke and defense attorney Lester Pines claim the investigation and Thompson's indictment are poltically motivated. Does Governor Doyle agree?