In 2009, Darlene Wink served as a constituent outreach worker for then Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. According to the criminal complaint (pdf) from the Milwaukee County prosecutor, Wink also worked to further Walker’s political prospects — on the public’s dime, which would be against the law. Last week, she agreed to plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanors in exchange for testifying in the ongoing investigation about, reportedly, destruction of evidence. Today, you can read yet more about the alleged secret computer network used to carry out the political organizing in public offices.
Among the campaigning Wink is accused of doing while at work is planning a “One-Year Out Celebration” for Walker’s 42nd birthday. It was supposed to be a fundraiser for his gubernatorial campaign.
As you can see above in an email included in the complaint, Wink then discovered that Sarah Palin intended to be in town that same night for a Right to Life event. On October 20, 2009, she wrote to Wisconsin Republican Party chair Reince Priebus for help in getting Palin to attend the “Happy Birthday” fundraiser, too. “We are already losing people to that event from our event,” she wrote.
She wrote Priebus again on October 28. According to the criminal complaint, he reminded her that Palin was “five hours behind us,” so they might have to wait for an answer. Two days later, Wink gave up on “Happy Birthday Scott” and started planning a “Holiday Gala” — also, according to the complaint, on government time. Neither Walker nor Priebus has been accused of wrongdoing. Walker, of course, is now the governor of Wisconsin and up for recall. Priebus now chairs the national Republican Party.
The place for in-depth analysis, commentary and informed perspectives.