Race Baiting in the Holloway Case

While there was some progress yesterday in the ethics case against Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway, the playing of the race card continues.

In a second development Thursday, the county Ethics Board accepted the resignation of John Fiorenza, a former county circuit court judge, as special prosecutor in the Holloway probe. The Ethics Board acted after a nearly two-hour closed session, and also announced a search for a new prosecutor.

No reason was given by the board for Fiorenza's departure. In an interview, however, Fiorenza said he thought it best that he step aside so the Ethics Board could find "someone else who doesn't carry the baggage" he does. Asked to elaborate, Fiorenza said he'd been labeled a "bigot" by Holloway's lawyer and didn't want that issue "to stand in the way of resolving the case."

Holloway lawyer Jeremy Levinson said he did not use the term bigot but has suggested a different, more vigorous standard was applied to the investigation of Holloway, who is African-American, than to other Ethics Board cases.

Levinson didn't respond directly when asked whether he thought the Holloway prosecution had been tainted by racial bias. He said, however, that "I certainly welcome a different approach in the future."

After the week he's had, I bet he does welcome a different approach. You know, one where Holloway's case is thrown out, derailed, stalled or forgotten.

Holloway's defenders believe Holloway was targeted because he is a black man in a position of power.

On the County Board floor yesterday, several of the Supervisors complained of the good old white boys club and brought up bizarre references to the the Frank Jude beating case. They noted the majority of the ethics board, the hearing examiner and the special prosecutor were white.

Two ironic points here.

One, Holloway is in power because WHITE county board supervisors joined their colleagues of other races to vote for him several years ago. To me, this disproves the assertion that their motivation to let the ethics case proceed is based on a desire to keep a black man from power.

Two, Holloway's attorney? Yeah, a white guy. See, our racial conspiracy runs so deep, we've even infiltrated the defense!

It is a damn shame that the bullying continues and that Fiorenza is out.

As I've written here time and time again, it's never as clear cut with that county board as we think.

I'd expect Holloway's advocates will now move to dismiss the whole case because 'how can he get a fair hearing with a new prosecutor?' It would fit the pattern.