IL-WI Running Parallel

Former top aide to Rep. Daniels pleads guilty to mail fraud

March 29, 2006

(AP) - A former top aide to Illinois House Republicans pleaded guilty Wednesday to mail fraud, admitting he assigned legislative staffers to campaign work on state time.

Michael Tristano, 58, who was chief of staff to former House Minority Leader Lee Daniels, would face between a year and a day and 20 months in prison under an agreement that requires him to cooperate with prosecutors in their continuing investigation of state political corruption.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr. set June 14 for sentencing.

"He is sorry for the mistakes that he has made," defense attorney Jeffrey Steinback told reporters as he and Tristano left court. He said it had been "a difficult day for Michael and I think you've probably had a chance to see that difficulty by the expression on his face."

Crain's first reported June 17, 2002, that virtually the entire Chicago staff of Daniels spent much of the spring or summer of 2002 in and near House districts with hotly contested general election races.

In one instance, Crain's reported, state records indicated that in a four-month period, nine Daniels staffers collectively traveled 252 times to one town where a GOP candidate was facing a strong reelection fight.

Wednesday's plea agreement states that Tristano diverted "between $120,000 and $200,000 in state resources to subsidize the campaigns of Republican candidates for the Illinois House. The diversions came in the form of time, false voucher records for auto travel and the use of state facilities."

Tristano, once the most powerful Republican aide in the Illinois House, admitted that he not only assigned GOP staffers to do campaign work on state time, but also used state computers and other taxpayer-paid resources to boost the chances of his party's legislative candidates.

According to Tristano's signed, 13-page plea agreement, the scheme to defraud the state took place between 1998 and 2001 as Illinois Republicans under Daniels were trying to regain control of the House or at least limit their losses to the Democrats.

Tristano admitted devising a scheme to camouflage the use of state workers on campaigns by giving them compensatory leave and payments from the House Republican Campaign Committee. But he acknowledged that neither the time off nor the payments covered all the campaign work.

Tristano also was executive director of the campaign committee, which Daniels headed.

Prosecutors have been investigating the alleged diversion of state workers and other resources into House Republican campaigns for more than two years.

Daniels, who is retiring at the end of this term, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

But the plea agreement states Mr. Tristano "reported to and took direction from Lee Daniels."

Daniels failed to return calls seeking comment.

Tristano was one of the most powerful staff members at the Statehouse in Springfield in the 1990s, heading a staff of 85 with a $5 million budget.

Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of theft, extortion conspiracy and other mail fraud counts in exchange for Tristano's guilty plea on one mail fraud count.

In his plea agreement, however, Tristano did acknowledge engaging in an extortion scheme with direct mail consultant Roger Stanley, who went to prison after pleading guilty to payoff charges in an offshoot of the investigation that led to charges against former Gov. George Ryan.

Tristano admitted he recommended to Daniels the awarding of a state grant to the suburban Village of Willow Springs to encourage real estate development there. Stanley had a financial interest in the real estate development.

The state ended up making about $1.3 million in such grants and Stanley in return placed an unnamed GOP legislative candidate on his company's payroll to provide income for the candidate while he was on the campaign trail, according to the plea agreement.

Stanley already had admitted the scheme as part of his own plea agreement. His attorney, Michael Ettinger, said he had no comment other than to say the government has agreed as part of its deal with Stanley, now out of prison, not to prosecute him for the Willow Springs matter.

Happy Birthday Republicans!

Excerpt from Ripon, WI Chamber of Commerce's website:

In this schoolhouse, on March 20, 1854, the first mass meeting in the country was held that definitely and positively cut loose from old parties and advocated a new party under the name "Republican.

This simple frame schoolhouse, built in 1850, holds a powerful history. In the Little White Schoolhouse a decision was made by a small group of Ripon citizens that changed the future of our nation forever.

On a cold and windy night, March 20, 1854, these Ripon citizens voted to form and become members of a new political party called "Republican." The birth of the Republican Party brought a dedicated following of individuals who pledged to organize together and fight against the spread of slavery.

Ripon Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Ripon Chamber of Commerce

It's a Sad Day

No jokes. No satire. No gloating. No smiles.

It is a sad day for Wisconsin.

It is a sad day for my Republican Party.

It is a sad day for Mrs. Jensen and for their handsome kids.

And I do pray for some level of mercy at sentencing -- more people share guilt with Scott Jensen, including Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard.

BUD FOX
Dad, I'm going to jail and you know it.
CARL FOX
Maybe that's the price, Bud, maybe so.
It's gonna be rough on you but maybe in some screwed up way, that's the best thing that can happen to you...stop trading for the quick buck and go produce something with your life, create, don't live off the buying and selling of others...

The Jensen Bed-In for Justice

Standing trial in the court of Judge Ebert
Begging for a new venue
But the man on the bench
said "You carry a stench"
You know they didn't even give me a chance

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Finally made it to the closing summation
Staff rolling me like jelly tarts
Stephen Meyer called to say
"Being gov's not in play"
Harvard boy should re-read Jean-Paul Sartre

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Drove from Madison to the Waukesha Hilton
Talking to myself nearly a week
The Sentinel said
"Say, what're you doing in bed?"
I said, "I'm only trying to get me on Sykes"

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Made a lightning trip out to Cambridge
Need to stock-up on Crimson ties
When the State Journal said
"Status went to his head"
I knew Dee Hall just had to lie

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Justice Prosser jumped out of his robes

just to testify I was O.K.

Then a man in the back said

"Prosser's wearing no pants"

I hung my head ready to cry

Christ, you know it ain't easy

You know how hard it can be

The way things are going

They're gonna crucify me

The way things are going

They're gonna crucify me
The way things are going

They're gonna crucify me

That Was a Defense?

Gotta laugh at this... Makes me wish Chvala would have went to trial.

The defense of Scott Jensen almost compels me to demand a full refund on Jensen's behalf. Stephen Meyer is playing a lawyer for the perks - maybe a free set of steak knives...

I "strenuously" object?
Is that how it's done? Hm?
Objection, your Honor.
Overruled
No, no. I STRENUOUSLY object.
Oh. You strenuously object. Then I'll take some time and reconsider.

Half the prosecution's witnesses did a better job defending Jensen than the witnesses for the defense.

And the last image of the Defense is that of Meyer asking for a mistrial because witnesses could not make "eye contact" with the defendant from the witness stand??

Do you have any more questions for me counselor?
Thanks Danny, I love Madison.

Sherry Schultz has got to be thinking, plea bargain, why didn't I take the plea bargain?

Just A Guy is Just a Jensen Tool

just a guy said...
I'm with editor. And neither of us are virgins. I also don't recall you ever arguing for the elimination of the caucuses during your unspectacular tenure in Wisconsin politics. Scott Jensen is fighting for his life because he has been forced into this position by Brian Blanchard, and second-guessing his strategy is about as productive as your pathetic squealing and finger pointing after you were let go by Scott McCallum. You're so important, Brian, only you or perhaps Schimming could figure out how to turn this into a claim that you were part of a "collaborative" effort that was really responsible for Jensen's success. Unbelievable.

Hey, Just a Guy;
You are obviously too green to remember that I was let-go from the RPW, not McCallum. Why? Something called the "RPW PAC-FAX."

I also advocated to our county/district Party caucuses to pass resolutions calling for the elimination of each of the 4 partisan caucuses - a few of which made it to the floor of the state Party convention.

These bold, brave moves set former State Rep. Judy Klusman on a mission - a mission to see my head served on a platter with garnish. Why? The RPW PAC-FAX was the first attempt by the Party to redirect PAC money away from the legislative campaign committees (RACC & CERS).

Klusman interpreted this as some sort of turf battle. And lobbyists feared they would not "get credit" if their checks went to RPW versus RACC or CERS.

As far as eliminating the caucuses, that was far from my idea alone. But having worked and campaigned from both the Senate (Bill Berndt Campaign) and Assembly (Holperin Recall) caucuses, it made common sense to me to have the State Party serve as both The Bank and The Warehouse for campaign operatives.

Again, I was young and naive and without knowing it at the time, I had offered my own head to the crazier elements of the legislature.

So, Just a Guy, stop sniffing Scott Jensen's shorts and start thinking with a clear mind.

Over ten years ago Dave Prosser, Bob Welch, Scott Jensen, Joyce Waldrop and a few others would sit in my office - or at weekend retreats in Sheboygan - and strategize how a minority Party could/should recruit better candidates, raise more money, mobilize our stakeholders, build better lists, and tap into Tommy's political popularity.

They were very productive meetings - Bob Welch never gets the credit he deserves for winning a majority.

Beginning with Tommy's election in 1986 and continuing for the next 2 consecutive election cycles, Republicans lost seats - LOST SEATS - lost seats in 1990, despite Tommy's landslide win.

During my tenure, we turned that around. It was a collaborative effort indeed - Mr. Just a Guy - with legislators, stakeholders, major donors, better candidates, better messages, and better tactics.

As for your uninformed reference to Scott McCallum -- you have me confused with DOR Secretary Cate Zeuske, whom he let go, or DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel, whom he let go.

Both were hugely popular with their former legislative colleagues - McCallum was not, which is why Scott Jensen desperately wanted (and should have) run a primary that year.

Do your homework, Just a Guy. And don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

Jensen Tainting Tommy Legacy

This is why Tommy is so beloved - he speaks the truth. He is a maverick. He refuses to chant the Party line.

Thompson hints at running — but for what?
President? Senator? Governor? His options are open

That's a leader.

When much of the Party base is goose-stepping blindly behind failed policies and failed leaders, Tommy steps-out and reminds Republicans - reminds conservatives - President Bush has failed conservatives.

As unlikely as I hear it is, Tommy can take back the governor's chair by simply having beers with a couple of reporters in Elroy, or at brother Ed's in Tomah, and declaring his return.

That is, if Scott Jensen retracts the self-serving subpoena he slapped his old boss with, forcing Tommy to testify, hoping some TGT star-power sways the jury in Jensen's favor.

Tommy is above the stank. Jensen should keep it that way.

The Last Campaign of Scott Jensen

It’s over. The die has been cast. The stain has set.

The Trial of Scott Jensen has torpedoed any strategy Republicans might have trotted-out this election year exploiting ethics reform. Those 30 second TV ads and 60 second radio ads slamming Dem. Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative Democrats are now toothless. Every day has been another train wreck of testimony that should have never reached the front pages.

Republicans across the state are cringing as we recognize the names of those staffers being forced to stand naked and point their fingers back at Scott Jensen. So much for nurturing the next generation of public servants. So much for showing the state that the Republican majority was about something. Now we see the Republican majority was about someone.

The Trial of Scott Jensen has confirmed that all roads lead back to Scott Jensen.

No surprise; the Capitol Culture has known Scott Jensen is/was at the epicenter of every campaign dollar, every policy roll-out, every election, every press conference, every committee assignment, every everything.

If a team photo was taken, it was Scott Jensen who sat squarely in the center of the frame.

In my years working with him, including his near loss in his first Assembly race, it was clear that Jensen was simply smarter than the average legislator. Cream does rise to the top in both the dairy business and legislative leadership.

But I think the personality glitch that is being laid open today is Jensen’s longstanding inability to accept collaborative efforts. He never wanted to be the power behind the curtain; he wanted to be the power on center stage. And he achieved it. But make no mistake; his success was a collaborative effort.

And his failure, today, is a non-collaborative, power-at-center-stage, Scott Jensen collapse.

The Trial of Scott Jensen is being campaign-managed by the accused. The trial is the first campaign where Scott Jensen has complete control. In the days, weeks, months leading to Election Day -- errr, Trial Day -- it has been Scott Jensen who has written the scripts, devised the strategy and framed the message.

The difference is, he no longer has control over dozens of staffers, no longer can throw a birthday party where hundreds of lobbyists flock, no longer has State Party resources and expertise, no longer has beholden committee chairs, no longer has associations conducting his polling.

So this is the last campaign of Scott Jensen. This one is all on himself. How’s it going so far?