Bluestem Prairie

That awkward moment when photo ID amendment backers realize that Austin's voter fraud guys had valid MN driver's licenses

Are non-citizens voting in Minnesota? Allegedly in two precincts in Austin, three people who were not eligible to vote registered and cast ballots on November 6.

The history of the case

All three are charged with felonies. What's the story? In Two non-citizens charged with voter fraud in Austin, Minn., MinnPost readers learned of two of the three:

Two brothers in Austin, Minn., who have permanent resident status in the U.S. but aren't citizens, have been charged with voter fraud.

The felony charge is: ineligible voter who knowingly voted.

William and Braulio Manzano, who spoke to police with the help of an interpreter, had checked the box on their voter application to indicate that they were not U.S. citizens, but then filled out the rest of the application and signed a line that said they are citizens, says the Austin Daily Herald.

And they told police that they had voted in the election. . . .

Dig down into the Herald, and there's this:

Two of three Austin residents who allegedly voted illegally at Ellis Middle School on Election Day have each been charged as an ineligible voter who knowingly voted, a felony.

Brothers William and Braulio Manzano were each charged Friday, Nov. 30, in Mower County Court. According to the court complaints, the brothers each checked the boxes on their voter applications that indicate they are not U.S. citizens. However, both men continued to fill out their applications and signed the portion that indicates they are citizens who can vote and that providing false information is a felony offense punishable by up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

An officer and interpreter spoke with the brothers, who both admitted they are not naturalized citizens but have permanent resident status with Minnesota identification cards.

Braulio admitted to voting, according to the court complaint, because he didn’t understand the application and didn’t know he had to be a naturalized citizen to vote. . .

The Austin Post Bulletin's Brent Boese reported in Three men charged with voter fraud in Mower County:

Three Austin men were charged Friday with voter fraud from the Nov. 6 election, which is a felony offense.

Jacob Awuol Barac and brothers William and Braulio Manzano all filled out same-day registration forms incorrectly, which slipped by election judges, before casting their ballots. All three checked the box saying they were not citizens of the United States before filling out the rest and signing the portion that says they were, in fact, U.S. citizens.

Each is facing up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

It's the first time since at least 1989 that Mower County has had issues with voter fraud, Mower County Auditor-Treasurer Doug Groh said.

"The election process needs to be tightened up," Groh said Nov. 21 after the illegal ballots were discovered during the election review.

Analysis of the case

The articles spurred a couple of questions. What were the "Minnesota identification cards" the brothers held? Who checks the registration forms? Finally, if the brothers had not checked the box indicating that they weren't citizens, would they have been caught? Would those people registering before elections have their status reviewed?

Bluestem obtained copies of the criminal complaints from the Mower County Courthouse. Both complaints (50-CR-12-2859 and 50-CR-12-2860) included Defendant Fact Sheets listing the men's "Minnesota identification cards." After some checking, we confirmed that these are valid drivers' licenses, legally obtained (lawful permanent residents, while not citizens, can obtain licenses).

Note that while non-citizens, the men are authorized to live and work in the United States, not the undocumented resident that Minnesota Majority's Dan McGrath represented in a cartoon person in a mariachi costume in order to frighten the base.

Thus, this wasn't a case that requiring a state-issued photo ID to vote would have solved, unless the election officials paid more attention than they did under current law to both the registration form--and the licenses' status information. The men had valid, legal, state-issued photo id--what they didn't have in order to be eligible to vote was citizen status.

Since the information on their registration forms conflicted, the election judges ought to have caught the problem before the ballots were cast. As it is, the problem was discovered when the ballots were examined, and the men are facing the very serious consequences of their actions.

What if the men had not checked the first box?  Would the felony have been detected? The answer is a qualified yes. The Department of Public Safety Driver and  Vehicle Services monthly shares citizen status check information from driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards with the Secretary of State’s office’s voting database to determine if non-citizens have registered to vote (and perhaps voted).

The legislative history

In a 2010 bipartisan election reform bill that was introduced by Ryan Winkler in the House (and co-sponsored by Republicans Mary Kiffmeyer and Laura Brod), this language was added to Minnesota statute that requires comparison of electronic data on citizenship to be compared to records in the

    Sec. 12. [201.158] USE OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DATA.
As required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, the
commissioner of public safety shall make electronic data on citizenship available to the
secretary of state. The secretary of state must determine whether the data newly indicates
that any individuals who have active records in the statewide voter registration system
are not citizens. The secretary of state shall prepare a list of those voters for each county
auditor. The county auditor shall change the status of those registrants in the statewide
voter registration system to reflect that they are challenged based upon their citizenship
and must notify the county attorney.
In 2010, the secretary of state must make the determination and provide lists
to the county auditors between 30 and 60 days before the general election and again
between six and ten weeks after the election. In 2011, the secretary of state must make
this determination again as part of the annual list maintenance. By August 1, 2012, the
secretary of state must provide electronic lists to the counties at least monthly.

The bill changed state statute, though less formal measures had been tried prior to the bipartisan  law's passage.

In a press release issued  September 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty Pushes Citizenship Verification and Photo Identification for Voting, a solution for verifying citizenship was proposed:

Citizenship Verification – The Governor is directing the Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services to routinely share citizen status check information from driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards with the Secretary of State’s office’s voting database to determine possible voter fraud. Minnesota will be one of the only states in the country to verify voters’ citizenship status.

This is the process that became later  became law in 2010, though prior to Pawlenty's directive, attempts were made to require that those registering to vote would have to document their citizenship.

In the 84th Legislature (2005-2006), Tom Emmer (HF1443) and then-state Senator Michele Bachmann (SF923) introduced companion bills that would have required Minnesotans to provide proof of citizenship when they registered to vote,  along with other changes to election law.

However, the citizenship documentation portion was stricken from the Emmer bill on May 9, 2006, just before the final version was approved by the Republican-controlled House on a 71-62 vote. DFLers Mary Ellen Otremba and Lyle Koenen voted for it, along with all Republicans voting.

The bill was sent to the Senate, where it died in the Elections Committee after being introduced by Bachmann and former Senator Maddy Reiter--the fate of their own bill, SF923, introduced in February 2005 and quickly dispatched to the elections committee.

Indeed, Bachmann was responsible for earlier versions of the legislation, which lacked a House companion bill until Tom Emmer showed up. As far as Bluestem is able to determine, Bachmann was first to bring the notion to the Minnesota Senate, introducing SF 1011 on February 22, 2001 with Republican co-authors Roy Terwilliger and Mark Ourada;  Independence Party Senator Sam Lessard added his name to the bill in March (a former DFL, Lessard had switched parties in 2000).

Other states have passed laws requiring that those registering to vote document their citizenship, but some voting right groups estimate that up to 7 percent of Americans lack the documents that prove they are citizens. It's viewed as form of voter restriction.

Had the election judges been more alert in two precincts in Austin, it's unlikely the men would have faced charges, just a stern talking to before being asked to hit the road. As it is, they were caught and face felony charges.

And that might get them in big trouble with ICE, which frowns on felony crimes of moral turpitude. As the Immigration Policy Center notes, it's not just undocumented immigrants who get deported, but lawful permanent residents who are convictedof crimes as well.

Will prosecutions be a deterrent for others lawful permanent residents considering voting illegally? Given the difficulty of obtaining lawful status, it's not a difficult question to answer.

Photo: Voting is for eligible voters.

Blog begathon: Bluestem is supported by reader contributions. If you liked this post, consider throwing some coin to the tip jar. If you don't like using PayPal, email at the address on this page for a snail mail address. We'll be running our twice-yearly "bleg" though Christmas.

Gerard Dols, self-proclaimed "Boy from Minnesota" in Milk biopic, weighs in on Rev. Ryan Muehlhauser pray-away-gay sex assaults

Best known for his 2008-2009 claims of being the "Boy from Minnesota" Gus Van Sant's biopic "Milk,"  "ex-gay" Chaplain Gerard Dols has sent a letter to the editors of the Isanti County News offering comfort to the members of the Lakeside Christian Church following the indictment of Rev. Ryan J. Muehlhauser on eight felony counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Dols utters safe words on Muehlhauser

The Star Tribune reported in Isanti County pastor charged with sex assaults on men he was counseling:

An Isanti County pastor who participated in a ministry devoted to helping people put their homosexuality behind them has been charged with sexually assaulting two men he was counseling. . . .

Muehlhauser also was a counselor through Robbinsdale-based Outpost Ministries, whose website says it was founded more than 30 years ago to help men and women "break away from gay life" and declares that "all homosexual behavior is sin." . . .

According to the criminal complaint:

One of the men told investigators that Muehlhauser "blessed" him by cupping his genitals outside of his clothing several times and that Muehlhauser asked the man to masturbate in front of him for "spiritual strength." Muehlhauser would also fondle the man at times. Their encounters occurred over a period of nearly two years.

Another man told investigators of similar encounters spanning most of this year, adding that Muehlhauser feared he would "lose everything" if anyone found out. At one encounter, Muehlhauser fondled the man and then the two joined the pastor's wife for a dinner outing.

The assaults of the two men occurred at the church, its prayer cabin and at a home belonging to a relative of one of the victims. The criminal complaint made a point to note that "consent by the complainant is not a defense," given Muehlhauser is a clergy member. . . .

Dols writes in We need to focus on restoration and healing:

I am writing this letter in response to the downfall of Pastor Ryan at Lakeside Christian Church.

My name is Chaplain Gerard Dols with Midwest Chaplains. Currently, I am working at the Capital Prayer Network during session, and the Minneapolis Salvation Army. I had the honor of living in Cambridge from 2002 thru 2004. At that time,  I was attending Church at River of Life with senior Pastor Tom Porta.

Thirty three years ago I made the decision to leave the homosexual lifestyle. It was not an easy road for me, but it was the best decision I made for it brought reconciliation between my dad and myself. This reconciliation brought healing and closure to the both of us. This past weekend, I returned to Cambridge for a visit and was disturbed to hear of Pastor Ryan’s downfall.  I grieved for his family and the community. What amazed me was how people were shocked and hurt by this. I myself wanted to restore the community, his family, and ultimately Pastor Ryan. We all ultimately have to take responsibility for our actions and ask for forgiveness when wronged. We as Christians need to extend forgiveness to the ones who have hurt us. By doing this, we can walk in freedom.

There are many people who have left the homosexual lifestyle like myself who do not use their position to influence others. We all need to adhere to boundaries so as to protect others and ourselves from accusations. When someone in authority requests you to keep a secret that even he knows is wrong, you must speak up and report it to the legal authorities. That is the right action to take. If you have been abused  there is no shame or guilt to tell legal authorities. We must tell so that we can break the cycle of sexual abuse. If you are one that has been abused, please tell so that it does not happen to others. My heart for the Cambridge community is restoration  and healing.

Dols applies spin to Spindale Word of Faith Fellowship woes

Part of Senator Dan Hall's Midwest Chaplains, Dols' "ex-gay" street cred is getting quite the workout this fall as stories of criminal abuse of gay men in ministries from Cambridge to Spindale, North Carolina emerge in the press.

The Charlotte Observer reports in Word of Faith Fellowship sees ‘persecution’ for a godly walk; critics see an abusive church:

. . . this diverse and charismatic congregation remains at the center of a roiling public debate that has spawned more than two decades of lawsuits, criminal charges and bitter custody fights over how church children are raised.

Few of the allegations against Word of Faith have led to formal charges. When they have, the charges haven’t stuck. Whaley’s assault conviction was overturned after five years of appeals. Over one five-year period, the church says it spent more than $3 million in legal fees.

Around the time Lowry made his allegations, three members of the Word of Faith security team and another church member were arrested after confrontations with Lowry and a companion, Jerry Cooper. Cooper, a former Word of Faith member and critic of the church, filed the charges. . . .

Dols entered the scene in the Christian Post's Word of Faith Source Calls Gay Abuse Allegations Against Church 'Complete Fabrications':

As authorities are investigating reports of abuse and imprisonment that a gay man brought against Word of Faith Fellowship Church, a nondenominational Christian congregation in Spindale, N.C., an inside source has said that all of the allegations are a complete fabrication pushed forth by a gay activist.

"This guy – is nothing but a gay activist who has tried to close this church up. He has tried to influence this kid, Michael Lowry. Sam and Jane are nothing like that and I will probably be testifying at court if there is a case. They have never ever abused me or any of my friends that I have brought down there," Chaplain Gerard Dols, who works at the Salvation Army A.R.C Program, shared with The Christian Post in a phone conversation on Friday. . . .

But Dols, who says that he has personally known Sam and Jane Whaley, the pastors Word of Faith, for the past 30 years and used to attend their church, says that Lowry is being persuaded to make up this story by a man who he calls a gay activist with a mission to try and close down the 750-member church. Dols, who describes himself as a formerly gay man who left that life behind when he became a Christian, was featured in the 2008 Academy Award-winning movie "Milk" as the "Boy from Minnesota." His character, a young gay man, seeks out the help of Harvey Milk, the real-life first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978, but was assassinated that same year.

Dols repeated to CP that the Whaleys "never ever abused me or any of my friends that I have brought down there." He explained that the "gay activist" he believes has been influencing Lowry previously has been arrested at World of Faith for trespassing, and that there has been a restraining order placed against him because he calls and emails the church all the time.

A Boy From Minnesota's Tale

Dols certainly gets around--and his stories about his youthful gay experiences wander a bit, too.

He told the Concerned Women of American in August 2008 that he'd first talked to Harvey Milk in 1977 when he was 17. Dols moved to Los Angeles and claims he was to move in with Milk and his partner, but Milk was murdered first. Dols claimed that the gay community became militant after Milk's death in late Nobember 1978 and abandoned him. When he attended a Jews for Jesus meeting on March 2, 1979, he was born again and renounced the "gay lifestyle." Listen here.

In early 2009, the City Page Blotter reported in Harvey Milk and the Boy from Minnesota:

Gus Van Sant's most recent film, Milk, while getting award buzz, also received plenty of Minnesota buzz. There's character in the movie who is only known as the "Boy from Minnesota."

The inclusion of the character set-off a search to find out if the person is still alive, and/or around. And if you believe the story of Minneapolis resident Gerard Dols, the character is very real and very much alive. Because the "Boy from Minnesota" is Gerard Dols.

Gerard called City Pages to tell his side of the story. He's concerned about what is being said about him. What follows is his story. If you choose to believe it, then yes, it's him. If you don't, then just assume it's a fable told on a blog. Either way... it's a decent yarn to read on a cold afternoon in the Twin Cities. . . .

I am the boy from Richmond, Minnesota. I want to tell you everything in the movie did not happen. It just did not happen. For one, I am disabled, but I was not in a wheel chair at that time. The writer of the book never interviewed me about it. I was born without kneecaps and wore braces as a child. . . .

I talked to Harvey 4-7 times after that and 10 days before my 18th birthday I got a plane ticket. I called to Harvey, but Jack [his boyfriend] answered the phone. Jack said, "Why are you coming here? Jack said why are you trying to take Harvey away from me?" I said, "Fine, let me call Anne [Kronenberg] and give her my flight number." When I called her she said you can't come now. I said why? She said Jack committed suicide last night.

I called him at 6 p.m. and he committed suicide within a half hour. It haunted me for 30 years.

I ended up flying to Los Angeles. Found Don Amador. And he helped me to find a place. Then Harvey was murdered. I immediately was depressed. All my gay friends deserted me when Harvey Milk died.

I was very upset about the militant groups and the riots that followed (Milk's assassin) Dan White only getting 5 years. They were against everything Harvey Milk taught. I felt very hopeless. Everything was lost. I chose to no longer live the lifestyle.

I am now a chaplain by trade. I work at an alcohol/drug rehab center and one of the homeless shelters.

Anyway, I am the Minnesota boy in the Milk movie. I am the boy from Richmond. I am now a born-again Christian. I have a strong faith. I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life.

Tony Gosgnach noted in an article in Catholic Insight that Dols never met Milk.

Dols claim to be "The Boy From Minnesota" was disputed by those connected with the movie and Milk's surviving associates, blog posts noted in 2009. Check out Yet another Harvey Milk post and Good as You's Dols claims (A) that he was 'Milk' boy, (B) that he's no longer buying the cow.

A Little Isanti County Action, 2004

GAY notes that Dols had popped up before in reports of anti-gay actions. On June 17, 2004, Star Tribune staff writer Tracy Swartz reported in Debaters tackle thorny issue; A same-sex marriage foe wants the Isanti County Board to put the issue before voters:

Rick Simon left his small-town Minnesota home 25 years ago because he felt residents there didn't accept his gay lifestyle.

People in Rush City would cross the street when they saw him, Simon said. Attitudes weren't much better in neighboring Isanti County, where his grandmother lived.

On Wednesday, in front of Simon and about 30 others, the issue of extending rights to same-sex couples was played in front of the Isanti County Board.

Holding a sign that read, "The Taliban is alive and well in Isanti Co.," Simon watched as Gerard Dols asked the county board to let county residents vote on whether same-sex marriages should be sanctioned.

"Applying the laws of marriage to same-sex unions will create a legal disaster that will never end," argued Dols, 43, who said he was gay for two years as a teenager in California before "accepting Jesus Christ" and rejecting "the gay lifestyle."

Isanti County Attorney Jeffrey Edblad said the county has no standing to act on Dols' request. Minnesota law prohibits same-sex marriages and does not allow the state to recognize such unions granted in other states. Federal law prohibits same-sex couples from receiving the same government benefits as married couples. . . .

 Nevertheless, Simon said, there is enough sentiment for Dols' position that if the issue were put to a vote in the county, opponents of gay marriage would prevail.

The Rev. Thomas Porta, assistant pastor at the River of Life Church in Cambridge, said he hoped the county commission would take a stand on the issue. He said he and almost all of his 150 parishioners would support the ordinance.

"I believe same-sex marriages would have a damaging effect on the institution of marriage," said Porta, 51. "I'd love to see it come to a vote." . . . ( accessed via Nexis All News 12/3/2012)

Our Man at the State Capitol, 2013?

That 2004 iteration places Dols in gay communities in California for a year and a half longer than his later accounting in 2008 and 2009, but time flies when you're having fun, or so we're told.

It's likely we'll hear more from Dols--and not just in Cambridge or on the phone to defend demon-beaters in North Carolina--if the drive to legalize same-sex marriage takes fire following last month's defeat of the amendment to restrict the freedom to marry. 

As noted earlier, Dols is part of State Senator Dan Hall's Midwest Chaplains, which has the mission to "encourage individuals to pray for our government and its leaders." Chaplains include Cathy Jo Severson, wife of former representative Dan Severson, as well as Senator Hall and Dols.

With Mrs. Severson, Senator Hall founded the Capitol Prayer Network in 2004; the organization continues to hold rotunda prayers every Monday and Legislative Prayer on Thurdays at 10:00 a.m.  The Cold Spring Record (see image) reported that Dols and Hall met with Jeff Howe, then a candidate for HD13A, at the April 26 meeting. Howe was elected in November.

The Capitol Prayer Network's weekly events are routinely included in the Minnesota Strategic Coalition's monthly calendar. Part of the New Apostolic Reformation, the MSC is "a relational based group of state leaders, ministry leaders, intercessors, prophets, and other KINGDOM minded people, for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God in MN and beyond."

Photo: Gerard Dols (above); Cold Springs Record item (below.

Blog begathon: Bluestem is supported by reader contributions. If you liked this post, consider throwing some coin to the tip jar. If you don't like using PayPal, email at the address on this page for a snail mail address. We'll be running our twice-yearly "bleg" though Christmas.

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Hacks & flacks: reports reveal Sutton stiffed Thompson along with other MNGOP creditors

Over at LeftMN, Steve Timmer writes about the decision of the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on a complaint Common Cause of Minnesota filed against the Republican Party and state senator Dave Thompson. From LeftMN:

This is, of course, a problem, not only for regulators and law enforcement, but also for members and contributors to the MNGOP. Well, and to anybody else concerned about what the MNGOP was buying with its money — if, indeed, anything. Among those who might be concerned are probably the fifteen counties, four law firms, a printing company and a couple of PR firms that the MNGOP stiffed in 2010 (scroll down to the very last page of the fourth restatement of the 2010 report to the CFB dated July 25, 2012).

But Tony Sutton was able to find the money to pay Dave. [emphasis added]

Sadly, no.  Thompson's fees are listed as debts on  federal reports at the close of 2010 and beyond, though not state reports to which Timmer directs his readers (which was rather one of the points of the Common Cause complaint after all).

The Republican Party of Minnesota stiffed Dave in 2010 too, as Bluestem first noted back in June 2011 in From the fascinating FEC reports of the Republican Party of Minnesota: of counties, committees, and candidates.

Since Timmer doesn't link to the FEC reports, Bluestem will review the case, lest the other Sutton era unpaid creditors feel Thompson got ahead in line for that red money.

As we shall see, the counties have been paid (with the exception of Cook) and with two exceptions, the other creditors are Republican law firms and flacks.

In short, they're a lot like Thompson.

Like Thompson, they're creditors at the end of 2010--and party hacks. Not necessarily the sort of victims that should raise your outrage because somehow Thompson got the better deal from Sutton, whatever professional sympathy Timmer may feel for his fellow members of the bar.

Let's review.

Sutton stiffs Thompson in 2010

According to the debts listed in party's end of year FEC filing:

David Thompson

P.O. Box 1201 Lakeville, Minnesota 55044

10

7500.00

General Party Media Consulting

As the state investigation notes, Thompson got another contract. Sutton paid the 2010 debt in April, 2011, but not the new, as we reported in June 2011:

In the next amended report  for the RPM(Febuary 2011), also filed on April 25, 2011, Dave Thompson was owed $18750.00 during the month of January. Thus, one might infer that the Republican Party of Minnesota retained Senator Thompson for $11,250 worth of additional services for "General Party Media Consulting." Thompson was not paid in January 2011 though March 2011 for any of the 2010 debt.

This changes in the May report, which details financial activity during April 2011. Thompson received two equal payments during April for the $7500 owed for 2010, when he was a candidate and consultant, while the $11,250 of consulting work from January 2011 remains charged as a debt.

Tony Sutton never did manage to pay off the entire debt to Thompson. Sutton resigned from the chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota in early December, and current party chair Pat Shortage took over On December 31, 2011.

In the party's 2011 year-end report, which covers the month of December  2011, the Republican Party of Minnesota remains $7700.00 in hock to Thompson. According to the Campaign Finance Board, Thompson ended up giving that to the RPM as an in-kind contribution:

He had an outstanding invoice with RPM of $7,700 as of December 2011. He has given that $7,700 to the Party as an in-kind contribution.

And those other 2010 creditors? Did Sutton ever pay? Maybe some, depending how one looks at it. For instance, the Emmer for Governor campaign committee is credited with a $13,038.65 in-kind expenditure for recount fees to all but one of fifteen counties the LeftMN mentions.

Some might consider that as Sutton paying, but from this distance, it looks like the Emmer for Governor committee paid for those Sutton debts to the counties, just as Thompson ended up forgiving a sliver of party debt to him.

Here are the 2010 debts:

The 2011 debts:

Of course, these are just the state-level committee debts.

But let's check those out. AVVR is a live-media service company and Rapit Printing, a locally-owned business.

Those poor. poor lawyers and flacks: victims all (yeah okay)

The other creditors have the sort of political ties that Thompson had--for LeftMN to leave the crony connections out might make Thompson appear to be a greater cad, paid at expense of hard-working lawyers and flacks, but a closer look is more rewarding, as it illustrates in even greater depth the culture of corruption during the Sutton years.

Capitol Direct, one of those poor stiffed victims cited by Timmer,  is owned by state senator Chris Gerlach. The  Pioneer Press reported in March 2102 that Senator Chris Gerlach to retire amid questions of conflict:

Gerlach's direct-mail business, Capitol Direct, was paid by lobbying firm Freedom [Club] to print a letter sent to Republicans in the Legislature, said Mike Dean, executive director of Common Cause Minnesota. The letter urged support of a state constitutional amendment to ban requiring workers to join and pay dues in unionized workplaces.

Here, as with Thompson, Sutton was stiffing one of his own, a mail house owned by a state senator. And Strother Communications? Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck and Catharine Rockert reported in Chairman's spending decisions on insiders helped lead to GOP debt:

A Republican leader with 25 years of hard-earned respect from the party that prides itself on fiscal discipline, awarded contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to consultants, lawmakers, candidates and party insiders over the course of nearly 30 months as state party chairman, contributing to the financial wreckage the party is trying to fix today.....

Strother Communications earned $221,000 and is owed an additional $52,446....

Strother's work is a good illustration of how the party at times contracted with people who had close ties to Sutton.

After becoming close with Aanestad through party activities, Sutton initially hired him in June 2009 to serve as the party's communications director. But one day later, Sutton said Aanestad was not going to serve in that role because of "business commitments."

Subsequently, Aanestad introduced Sutton to Strother and encouraged him to hire Strother's firm to rebrand the party, Sutton explained. In early October of 2009, Strother Communications got its first check from the party.. . .

The MPR report also goes into the  debts owed to the Trimble Law Firmm which like Thompson and Strother was paid in part:

Trimble & Associates, a legal firm owned by Tony Trimble, saw the Republican Party through two election recounts and a redistricting battle. Since 2008, the firm has made more than $1 million from the party, much of it stemming from the eight-month U.S. Senate recount between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. Franken ultimately won the election.

The Republican Party still owes Trimble's firm $330,000 for work during the 2010 gubernatorial recount between the GOP's Tom Emmer and DFLer Mark Dayton, according to state party leaders. But those leaders are challenging the expense, and questioning Sutton's role in obligating the party to pay it.

In short, it doesn't look like Sutton gave Thompson a privileged position over other political and legal hacks the Republican Party hired.  Most were cronies who got a share of the action and like Thompson, remain unpaid or forgiving.  With the exception of  Cook County, Emmer's  committee took care of the outstanding debts to the counties.

An AV firm and a printing company remain unpaid.

The Thompson contract illustrates the culture of cronism that thrived under Sutton, as well as the sloppy bookkeeping. It doesn't demonstrate special treatment for Thompson, beyond that received by the rest of the cronies.

We agree with LeftMN and Joe Repya on one thing: an audit of the Sutton years is probably not forthcoming.

Image: The ever-green Sutton peso bill, by Tild. Everytime we think we've gotten what we can from that investment, something else comes out.

 Blog begathon: Bluestem is supported by reader contributions. If you liked this post, consider throwing some coin to the tip jar below.  If you don't like using PayPal, email at the address on this page for a snail mail address. We'll be running our twice-yearly "bleg" though Christmas.

Why, yes he's on the Public Safety & Crime Prevention Policy & Finance Committee: Daudt's driver's license suspended 4 times since 2006

Back in the day, Republican operative and blogger Michael Brodkorb made much of the 2008 suspension of Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak's driver's license for the partial non-payment of a speeding ticket (though it's a piece that doesn't seem to have survived the migration of Brodkorb's content to his new, kinder and gentler site).

For his part, the Mayor confessed being surprised, while acknowledging to the Star Tribune that public officials are held to a higher standard:

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been driving without a valid license for nearly three months.

His driver's license has been suspended since Feb. 14 because he failed to pay the full amount of a 2006 speeding ticket, Minnesota court records show.

Rybak said Thursday night he had no idea his license had been pulled.

"I paid my speeding ticket and I fully intended to pay the right amount," he said. "People shouldn't speed, people should pay their speeding tickets, and I shouldn't have sped. There's no excuse."

. . ."I'm in the public eye and rightfully have to be held to a very high standard," he said. "I will get it fixed."

Bluestem recalled the episode after checking newly selected House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt's court records this morning. Daudt's driver's license has been suspended four times for non-payment of tickets since 2006 (a pdf of the cases is embedded below).

Three are for unpaid speeding tickets (Daudt received one other speeding ticket and another for a registration vehicle registration issue, but paid fairly promptly) and the other for a registration/license plate violation).

Two of the suspensions happened after he began serving in the state legislature--and why yes, he was a member of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee.

We're not sure if being House Minority leader will put Representative Daudt as much in the public eye as the crowd-surfing mayor, but Bluestem does hope that he'll get hold himself to as high a standard and pay future speeding tickets with greater alacity than he has heretofore shown.

Kurt Daudt Driver's License Suspensions 2006-2012

Photo: Kurt Daudt, from the Twin Cities Daily Planet.

Related posts: The Pillow Book of Kurt Daudt: a short political history of the new MN House Minority Leader

Shrunken head claws way to top: MNGOP House caucus selects Kurt Daudt as Minority Leader

Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association creation totally confirms Onion's May labor market report

In May, the Onion reported in Fracking Industry Now Largest Employer Of Recent PR Graduates:

A new labor market study published Wednesday has found that oil companies with hydraulic fracturing interests have outpaced the tobacco industry, Wall Street, and the gun lobby to become the largest employer of recent college graduates with public relations degrees.

"These days, media-savvy professionals who know how to publicize questionable scientific data in order to downplay the environmental dangers of forcing toxic fluids into the ground can pretty much write their own ticket," said Bart Hobijn of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, adding that this year at least 2,500 graduating seniors will be put to work obfuscating the levels of carcinogens in groundwater.

"And in the long term, the job demand will only increase. Fracking has become a high-growth sector in which there is an extraordinary amount of spinning to be done." When asked how he enjoyed his new position with a Pittsburgh-based fracking operator, recently hired PR manager Matt Coleman said he believed the practice is a "safe, clean way to increase our natural gas reserves and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil."

Recent developments in Wisconsin's frac sand mining industry appear to confirm this prediction. Since the formation of the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association, media markets in the Upper Midwest have seen an explosive growth in cheerful tales about mine operators'  kindness to animals and dedication to  their neighbors' best interests.

On August 28, David Schuyler, web editor of the Milwaukee Business Journal, reported in Sand mining firms form Wisconsin association:

Four sand mining companies with operations in Wisconsin have formed a statewide association to promote sound environmental practices across the industry.

The Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association, based in Eau Claire, was established by Badger Mining Corp. of Berlin, Wis.; U.S. Silica of Frederick, Md.; Unimin Corp. of New Canaan, Conn.; and Fairmount Minerals of Chardon, Ohio.  . . .

“As a leader and voice of the state’s sand mining industry, our goal is to promote a transparent discussion about all issues relating to sand mining in Wisconsin, including land use, environmental sustainability and economic impact,” [Rich] Budinger, [regional manager for Fairmount Minerals and association president,] said in a press release announcing the association's formation. “We want to work cooperatively with state and local governments and others to develop a better understanding of our industry."

Budinger said industrial sand mining generates thousands of family‐supporting jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in overall economic impact to the state and local communities.

The association quickly established an ambitious work plan as they seek establish themselves as totally adorable stewards of the planet. Just last week, the Red Wing Republican Eagle reported in Wisconsin sand mines home to flourishing bat habitats:

“A lot of people think bats are scary and creepy and kind of a pest, but they really are a very important part of the ecosystem,” explained Lauren Evans, sustainable development coordinator for Wisconsin Industrial Sand Co.

WISC, a subsidiary of Fairmount Minerals, operates underground sand mining operations in Maiden Rock and Bay City. The mines are home to the second and third largest bat habitats in the state.

Decades ago, bats started naturally hibernating in the tunnels left behind from mining, Evans explained. More recently, WISC connected with officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to manage the habitat.  . . .

Evans said the mines recognize the importance of bats, and that’s why they’re careful to keep them unharmed.

“We just feel that we have this opportunity to help protect them as a species so we’re going to do it to the best of our ability,” she said.

As a supplement to WISC’s underground efforts, the company also has installed more than 15 bat boxes at its facilities in Maiden Rock, Bay City and Hager City. Two more boxes will soon be installed at Prairie View Elementary School in Hager City.

WISC welcomes interest from those wanting to tour its mining facilities and see the bat population up close, Evans said.

“We’re always open to working with schools and community groups, bringing them in, showing them what we do and teaching them about the bats.”

And environmental guys have joined hands that the frac sand industry has nothing against clean water, even though holding ponds might leak once in a while. The Republican Eagle reported in Trout Unlimited, mining company team up for river restoration:

While controversy swirls around the mining of silica sand, many of the industry’s opponents have negative views of area mining companies.

Conversely, many other people — including members of a local Trout Unlimited chapter — are recognizing positive attributes of one company in particular.

Wisconsin Industrial Sand Company, a subsidiary of Fairmount Minerals, operates underground mines in Maiden Rock and Bay City. The facilities mine silica sand, which is often used in a process known as hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking) to extract oil and natural gas from underground rock. WISC also operates a processing facility in Hager City. . . .

“There are those who have questioned or even criticized us for having this relationship, but they have not taken into consideration all of the facts,” Kiap-TU-Wish chapter President Kyle Amundson said. “We don’t know what fracking will bring as far as detriments to the environment, but just because Fairmount mines sand (and supplies silica for any number of businesses) does not mean that they are a bad corporation.”

Sadly, not all members of Trout Unlimited are so cheerful about WISC's pseudo news. Earlier in  September, the Republican Eagle reported in Trout Unlimited will celebrate Hay Creek cleanup Saturday that TU was hanging out with dirty hippies in Hay Creek Township:

Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit conservation group that has been working to restore nearly two miles of Hay Creek after summer floods, will hold a celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Sept. 22.

The event will feature refreshments, opportunities for trout fishing and a presentation about silica sand mining by citizen group “Save the Bluffs.”

It will be held on the property of Dean Rebuffoni. For directions, visit www.twincitiestu.org.

Still, the upbeat flacks aren't discouraged, no matter how loud local citizens get about plans to dig up half of the green rolling hills of Wisconsin to haul off to North Dakota's grand experiment in groundwater contamination. In the Winona Daily News, Kate Prengaman of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism reports in Conference draws 50 frac sand mining protesters:

A newly formed industry association, the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association, hopes to assure residents that sand mining can be done safely and responsibly. But president Rich Budinger acknowledges that sand miners haven’t done enough to answer community questions.

“I wish we were doing this two years ago. I think a big part of the problem is the misinformation,” Budinger said in an interview after the protest.

Budinger said the four founding companies — Fairmount Minerals, Badger Mining Corp, U.S. Silica and Unimin — have all been producing industrial sand safely for decades. For other companies to join the association, they have to agree to a code of conduct that prioritizes environmental sustainability and safety.

“The growth of our industry has created a lot of questions in Wisconsin,” Budinger said. “We formed to promote the proper management of our industry and provide a fact-based discussion.”

Because those fact-free freaks are causing such problems:

In recent weeks, residents of Buffalo County convinced the county zoning board to reject two frac sand facility proposals from Menomonie-based Glacier Sands, one for a processing plant and loading facility 1,200 feet from the Cochrane-Fountain City School. . . .

Many in Buffalo County protested the permits because of the increased truck traffic and the potential health effects of sand dust exposure.

The mining companies promise to monitor the situation.

Austin neo-Nazi Sam Johnson sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing assault rifle

Austin neo-Nazi Sam Johnson, whom Bluestem interviewed during the period he was holding anti-immigration rallied in the Mower County meat-packing town, was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday for possessing an assault rifle, the Associated Press and the Austin Herald report.

Since Johnson is a felon, he is not supposed to possess weapons or ammunition.

In Sam Johnson sentenced to 15 years in prison, the Herald reports:

Thirty-one-year-old Samuel James Johnson was sentenced in a St. Paul federal court Wednesday for possessing an assault rifle. Federal officials believed Johnson was amassing weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition as part of a plan to attack the government and minorities. . . .

Johnson’s criminal history includes a number of convictions in Mower County: attempted simple robbery in 2000, simple robbery in 2007, possession of a short-barreled shotgun in 2007, and sale of a simulated controlled substance in 2007. Johnson also has a Hennepin County conviction for felony theft in 1999.

Since at least three of Johnson’s prior felony convictions were for crimes of violence or serious drug crimes, sentencing in this current case was subject to the Armed Career Criminal Act, which mandates a minimum of 15 years in federal prison. Johnson faced a maximum sentence of life in prison.

According to a federal affidavit, Johnson was a former member and Minnesota leader of the National Socialist Movement, a white nationalist group and had gone on to form his own group, called the Aryan Liberation Movement. He once held rallies in Austin.

Ironically, Johnson's first contact with neo-nazi beliefs came during one of his previous incerations. In an interview with Bluestem, Johnson said that he acquired "white pride" in the Mower County Jail:

National Socialist Movement Southeast Minnesota unit leader Sam Johnson learned about what he calls "white pride" while incarcerated in the Mower County Jail for multiple felony gun, drug, and simple robbery counts.

Before he went to jail and discovered "white pride," Johnson said he was an "ignorant man who wanted either to be feared or loved and to have ton of money." . . .

The new cellmate called Johnson on his behavior and asked him to "Be White."

Johnson asked more questions about what that meant, and the jailhouse mentor began to share a version of the teachings of Asatru. For most adherents, Asatru is a relatively benign form of northern European neo-paganism similar to Celtic Wicca, but the neo-pagan belief system was co-opted by German Nazis in the Thule Society and adapted over a decde ago by American neo-Nazis seeking a faith that worships gods that are homegrown in northern Europe . . .

. . .After exploring various "white pride" groups following his release from jail, Johnson joined the National Socialist Movement in March 2009.

Johnson's anti-immigrant rallies were promoted by the conservative blog True North until Bluestem and other bloggers pointed out that he was a National Socialist Movement leader.

Paul Westrum's Minnesota Coalition For Immigration Reduction, an anti-immigrant group that seeks to severely limit all immigration to the United States, disavowed Johnson after featuring him in a video on its Youtube channel.

The Rochester Post Bulletin was sketchy about describing Johnson; in some reports, he was an "immigration reformer"; in others, a neo-nazi. Clashes with progressive bloggers and Indymedia led to an invitation for editor Jay Furst to TPT's Almanac, where Furst and the hosts chortled about how Johnson wasn't really newsworthy.

Earlier this year, Johnson associate Joseph Benjamin Thomas, who described himself as a "domestic terrorist," was indicted on drug charges. Thomas had planned to blow up the Mexican consulate in the Twin Cities.

The only source to have photos of Thomas? Indymedia, one of the online sources TPT and Furst so blythely dismissed. Jaime Hokanson had photographed Thomas at a rally in Austin and the infamous Sue Jeffers/Ruthie Hendrycks sponsored "Tea Party Against Amnesty" in November 2009. The rally was punked by prankster Nick Espinosa in the debut of persona "Robert Erickson," who called for the deportation of illegal and lawless European immigrants who had displaced Dakota people from their place in the state.

In the case of Thomas and Johnson, there might be some merit to that modest proposal.

Photos: Sam Johnson, 2007, courtesy of the Mower County Sheriff's office; Joseph Benjamin Thomas, Courtesy Jaime Hokanson, Anti-Racists Steal the Show at White Supremacist "Tea Party Against Amnesty", Twin Cities Indymedia.

Related posts: NSM's SE MN Samuel Johnson: races separate and unequal

NSM SE MN's Sam Johnson, part two: that neo-old time religion

NSM SE MN's Sam Johnson, part three: old libels and a familiar political agenda

Backgrounder: 2009 NSM activity in Austin, Minnesota

Breaking Spamtown's spiral of silence: Austin and Twin Cities activists confront neo-Nazis

White supremacist Sam Johnson, subject of 2009 BSP interview, named in federal affidavit

Photos of Joseph Benjamin Thomas, targeted St. Paul Mexican consulate, taken at 2009 neo-nazi, Tea Party Against Amnesty rallies

Mendota Heights white supremacist Joseph Benjamin Thomas cops federal meth plea

Bachmann dodges press questions at Allen Quist Rochester fundraiser; Mike Parry campaign reminds world Michele did so love him too

Despite on-going criticism of Representative Michele Bachmann's cray-cray allegations about Muslim-Americans serving in the federal government, including fellow Minnesota representative Keith Ellison, Allen Quist held his Bachmann fundraiser last night in Rochester.

Meanwhile, MN CD1 Republican primary opponent Mike Parry reminded voters that Bachmann did so love him too, having endorsed him in his two state senate races. Meanwhile, he had local Republican leaders supporting him.

Quist dodges issue

While Mike Parry might fear meeting Quist in a real debate, the Norseland farmer and retired college professor did a bit of conflict avoidance himself Friday night, side-stepping questions about Bachmann's controversial statements, which have earned the scorn of Republicans like John McCain and House Speaker John Boehner.

In Michele Bachmann appears at Rochester fundraiser, the Post Bulletin's Heather Carlson reports:

. . .Newspaper and TV reporters covering the fundraiser were informed shortly before it started that the congresswoman would not answer questions, and the media was not allowed to cover her speech. Asked about Bachmann's recent accusations, Quist declined to weigh in, saying, "It's just not my area." . . .

Star Tribune staff writers Kevin Diaz and Jennifer Brooks have more in Heat is on Bachmann after leveling new charges at Ellison:

Back in Minnesota Friday to headline a fundraiser for Allen Quist, Bachmann declined to speak with reporters or even to allow them in the room with her. About 75 people turned out for the Rochester event, which raised about $9,000 for Quist, who is in a contested GOP primary race for the First District seat. Her lone interaction with journalists was a wave out of a car window and a cheery "bye-bye!" as she drove away.

Quist sought to distance himself from the controversy, saying, "I'm delighted to have her here." Of her comments, he said, "It's not my issue. My issue is the national debt."

In some respects, Quist's avoidance is a giant step back from statements made two years ago. In his 2010 bid for the Republican endorsement, Quist famously said that defeating Walz and Obama was more important than defeating terrorism.  Quist wasn't alone in invoking fears of terrorism. The Minnesota Independent reported in ‘Fear mongering,’ little substance in Hagedorn’s terror ‘white paper’:

Hagedorn, and fellow CD-1 GOPer Allen Quist, are both invoking terrorism in their campaigns. The pair got a “thumbs down” from the Mankato Free Press editorial board last week for the negative tone of their campaigns, including Quist’s headline-grabbing statement that fighting “radicals” like Walz and Barack Obama was a bigger “battle” than fighting terrorism.

Quist was called out on MSNBC for using the “terrorism exploitation machine” in hopes of winning election.

Hagedorn, with his terrorism white paper, now joins Quist in that camp, says Hamline University professor David Schultz . . .

In Schultz’s eyes, though, they’re using nearly identical rhetoric. “In a variety of ways, they’re doing what I call interesting McCarthyite actions… It’s a form of red baiting: Equating Democrats and liberals with Muslims and terrorists. It just depends on where they want to put the accent.” . . .

Equating all Muslims with terrorists and groups thought to be extreme seems to be the game Bachmann is  playing to the point where she defames her colleague Keith Ellison. It is indeed unfortunate that Quist doesn't have the decency to call her out; one of the responsibilities of friendship is to let your friend know when she's full of it.

Quist famously said during his 2010 bid that defeating Walz and Obama was more important than defeating terrorism; Hamline law professor David Schultz told the Minnesota Independent that Quist's formulation was a form of back-handed "red-baiting" intended to equate Democrats with terrorists.

Parry: Bachmann likes me too

Flailing Quist primary rival Mike Parry, whose checkbook held a mere $30,600 at the end of the Q2 reporting period, misses a chance at showing some integrity about Americans who are Muslims as well.

Instead, the Parry campaign opted to remind Republicans that Congressman Bachmann has blessed his lesser bids for office. The Post Bulletin reports:

Bachmann has been a Parry supporter in the past, Parry's campaign noted.

"Congresswoman Bachmann endorsed my two winning campaigns for state Senate," Parry said in a statement. "I'm honored to have the support of Rochester legislators, like Sen. Dave Senjem and Rep. Mike Benson, in our campaign for Congress."

Isn't that special?

Huckle Media executive demands apology or resignation

But scolding Bachmann isn't just a bipartisan Beltway thing. In the district, Steve Pope, the chief operating officer of the conservative Huckle Media chain--which owns district newspapers in Faribault, LeCenter, Le Sueur, Owatonna, St. Peter and Waseca--contributed a guest editorial to the OPP, Minnesotans should be ashamed for Michelle Bachmann:

We all know bigotry should not happen. So does Michelle Bachmann. Bigotry, intolerance and blatantly unfounded accusations have no place in a position at the level of the one she holds.

She should be ashamed. We should be ashamed for her. She should apologize or consider resigning.

Curiously, the comments run toward defense of Bachmann and criticism of the Owatonna People's Press. The OPP's Mao-worthy name is the only thing about the paper that might suggest left-leanings, so complaints that Huckle Media is part of some liberal media conspiracy are laughable.

A recent example? While the rest of Minnesota's papers reported that Parry and Quist's fundraising for both the quarter and the election cycle lagged far behind that of Walz, the OPP only reported on the cycle totals.  In Parry, Quist raise money for potential run against Walz in southern Minnesota, readers were also left in the dark about how much cash Parry and Quist had on hand:

As the campaign for the Republican nomination for Minnesota’s First Congressional District enters its final weeks, candidates Mike Parry and Allen Quist are checking their bank accounts.

As of the end of June, the Quist campaign said it has raised $218,160 for the Minnesota primary, which takes place on Aug. 14. The Parry campaign has raised less than half that — just $102,305.10.

The article then goes into the spat over Quist's self-funding, but never reports either Republican's cash on hand. This isn't true for its reporting on the Walz campaign's fundraising:

Walz, DFL-Minn., stands second among Minnesota Congressional candidates with $808,000 cash on hand. Sara Severs, campaign manager for the Tim Walz for Congress, said the three-term Congressman has raised $1.4 million in the 2012 election cycle.

One could forgive readers in Owatonna for imagining that the gap between Parry and Walz's bank accounts isn't that large--an 8-to-1 or a 4-to-1 difference, rather than the $30,608.46 v. $808,000 gap (Parry v. Walz) or $165,214.32 v. $808,000 gap (Quist v. Walz). Whatever the spin on this, it's not toward the Democratic incumbent.

Speaking of witchhunts: Parry threatens more action on Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

While Bachmann's headline-garnering witchhunt is the more reckless, Mike Parry isn't afraid to glean earned media from his own grandstanding against Secretary of State Ritchie, despite Friday morning's snoozer of a hearing.

In Republican legislators take Ritchie to task over photo ID, Star Tribune staff writer Jim Ragsdales writes:

Parry, who faces a tough congressional primary against former state Rep. Allen Quist on Aug. 14, denied that he harbored any political motives in calling the hearing. He said he has heard complaints about Ritchie's activities and wanted to investigate them. He said Ritchie's public descriptions of the amendment, if shown to be untrue, could amount to violations of campaign laws.

That's why he drove such an totally nonpartisan set of wheels to the Minnesota state capitol. Will the state senate pay for mileage or Parry's congressional campaign committee or both?

And the evidence?  Trial by newspaper:

The main anti-Ritchie testimony came from Sen. Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, sponsor of the photo ID bill, and Dan McGrath of Minnesota Majority, one of the chief lobbyists supporting the measure. Newman -- saying he was appearing as a private citizen, apparently because he, too, is a named plaintiff -- cited newspaper clippings from Mankato and Marshall, Minn., in which Ritchie discussed the amendment and its effects.

 Minnesota Majority has already produced an ad calling Ritchie's integrity into question. The ad includes this text: "

Well, guess what? Minnesotans recently learned that one of Secretary Ritchie's own employees appears to have voted illegally in at least two elections using a false identity. If Mark Ritchie can't smell voter fraud when it's right under his nose, how can we possibly trust him on Voter ID?

A fascinating question, and what Minnesotans don't learn from that ad is that the indicted individual first voted in 2004, when Mary Kiffmeyer was Secretary of State; the employee was hired in 2005 and promoted in 2006, under Kiffmeyer's administration, as Fox9 News reported in Ritchie commends use of facial recognition tech in finding fraud.

 

Kiffmeyer was the first executive director of Minnesota Majority. Using the group's own logic, if she couldn't smell fraud when it was right under her nose, how are we to trust her or Minnesota Majority on Voter ID?

More seriously, in early 2006 the Pawlenty administration first raised the possibility of using a Department of Homeland Security federal grant to suss out potentially bogus drivers licenses, then conducted the scan of the drivers license photo database using facial recognition software in 2008. Around 24,000 possibly fraudulent licenses were flagged. Pawlenty was governor for two more years--and he, not Secretary of State Ritchie, had oversight of the DMV database.

Why didn't the governor take action or build a system for routine scans? Some friends have suggested that the findings would have proven damaging to his presidential ambitions, since no Democrat had served as governor of Minnesota for decades.  With the amendment on the ballot, there's a chance to misdirect the indictment of a Kiffmeyer hire--and Pawlenty inaction--to Ritchie.

A most curious witchhunt indeed.

Photos:  Michele Bachmann rides away from the Quist fundraiser (above)  Photo via the Star Tribune); Mike Parry's wheels parked outside Friday's senate hearing. (Tweetpic by Lithappens). AP reporter Brian Bakst snapped and tweeted another angle here.

Related posts: Emo Senator: Accounting migraines or, Parry campaign vehicle parked outside state hearing

What did Mary Kiffmeyer know about ID fraudster "Victoria Ayoola" & when did she know it?

What did Kiffmeyer right-hand worker Kent Kaiser know about ID fraudster "Victoria Ayoola" & when did he know it?

July 2012 Sixth Anniversary Bleg Notice: Like what you're reading on this blog? Help support an independent voice from Greater Minnesota:

Please consider using the paypal button above (checks accepted; email for my snail mail address) or something from my modest wish list (mostly coffee and cat treats).

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Editor and Proprietor

What did Mary Kiffmeyer know about ID fraudster "Victoria Ayoola" & when did she know it?

Yesterday, Minnesota's right blogosphere was all a-twitter over Tom Lyden's Fox 9 story, State worker accused of drivers license, Social Security fraud:

One day after the FOX 9 Investigators reported that as many as 24,000 Minnesota drivers licenses may be frauds, a state employee working in Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's department appeared in court to face charges that she fraudulently obtained a drivers license and housing assistance.

The irony of the indictment was not lost on Minnesota Majority, the group campaigning for the amendment. Ritchie, however, is out of state and has been unavailable for comment.

In Bluestem's reading about the case, we noticed that Oluremi George was reported to have worked for the State of Minnesota for seven years. Since 2012-7 = 2005, we wondered who had hired her and whether she had always worked in the Secretary of State's office.

That question is answered in a couple of articles in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Yesterday, Elisabeth Mohr reported in State employee indicted on federal fraud charges:

Using the Ayoola name, George was hired by then-Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer in 2005 as a temporary office specialist. In 2006, she was promoted to administrative specialist, according to Pat Turgeon, spokeswoman for the office.

Ayoola remains officially employed as a clerical employee in the business services division, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's office said in a news release.

Ritchie said in the release: "As soon as the indictment was unsealed, the office took immediate steps to ensure that all of our systems were protected. Yesterday, this office provided information to the Washington County attorney regarding Ms. George using her false government-issued driver's license to register to vote and vote in 2004 and 2008, which would be additional felony violations of state law."

And this today: Washington County attorney: No new charges for state worker accused of fraud:

She was hired in 2005 by the Minnesota Secretary of State's office as a clerical staffer under the Ayoola name.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie issued a statement Tuesday, July 17, applauding law enforcement's efforts to stop identity fraud and said his office had notified the Washington County attorney's office that George used the Ayoola name to vote in 2004 and 2008.

But Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said Wednesday he would not pursue additional charges against George, citing a three-year statute of limitations.

These facts raise some questions for former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.

1. This person was hired and then promoted by Mary Kiffmeyer. Does she or or her chief staff Kent Kaiser know if there was some special reason why George was hired?

2. Why was George  promoted during the Kiffmeyer administration? Were there any special reasons why George was promoted?

3. George voted illegally under Secretary Kiffmeyer's watch in 2004. Did Kiffmeyer know this and ignore it, or was she not aware of the vote? What measures did she have in place to address this sort of fraud? As Steve Drazkowski asked of Mark Ritchie, did this woman run the state's voter data base? 

We know from a press release issued by Ritchie's office that George's job was clerical assistant in the business services office, located in a completely different location from all elections staff. Information about her responsibilities under Secretary Kiffmeyer could be obtained by calling her directly. Perhaps the conservative bloggers attacking Mark Ritchie could give Mary Kiffmeyer a call.

4. According to another Fox9 report:

As uncovered by the FOX 9 Investigators, there are nearly 24,000 Minnesota drivers licenses that may be cases of possible fraud. Those cases were discovered by facial recognition software that electronically compared photos in the Department of Vehicles Services data bank of 11 million photos. That facial recognition scrub was conducted in 2008, paid for with a federal grant.

This scan occurred during former Governor Pawlenty's watch. Why was no action taken about the possible fraud? Was the inaction related to his run for President?

Bluestem is looking into the recent past politics in Minnesota of using biometrics. Fascinating reading indeed.

Photo: Did what Mary Kiffmeyer know (or not know) about her office's hire make her smile so?  Photo: Paul Schmelzer, Minnesota Independent.

Between the lines in Quist FEC Q2 2012 report: $4000 to Al Travis Theilfoldt

July 2012 Sixth Anniversary Bleg Notice: Like what you're reading on this blog? Help support an independent voice from Greater Minnesota:

Please consider using the paypal button above (checks accepted; email for my snail mail address) or something from my modest wish list (mostly coffee and cat treats).

The blegathon will run through July.

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Sally Jo Sorensen
Editor and Proprietor

Express Scripts update: Uptake claims MNGOP "smoking gun" illegal corp contribution email found; Common Cause to file criminal complaint

Early last week, Bluestem took a look at the details of a Minnesota mention in a front page Sunday New York Times article about hidden corporate contributions in American politics. In Express Scripts worked to bring "certainty" to Minnesota's (GOP?) voters during redistricting, Bluestem looked at the tangled web they wove. We also noted the paucity of data available about Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting:

Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting is not registered with the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General Division of Charities, nor with the Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board. Guidestar's entry for the organization notes that it is registered with the IRS but no reports are available for it.

Fortunately for Minnesotans, this poor country blogger wasn't the only one watching. In Smoking Gun email: MN GOP May Have Hid Corporate Contributions The Uptake's Mike McIntee reports that Common Cause MN has been able to connect the dots following its successful complaint about the entwined finances of the Republican Party of Minnesota and the shell recount corporation, Count Them All Properly:

Minnesota’s Republican Party may have used the same illegal method to fund its 2011 redistricting fight as it used to fund the Minnesota 2010 Gubernatorial recount, but this it time may have also violated a Minnesota law that prohibits corporate contributions to political parties.

Last week the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board fined former Minnesota Republican Party Chair Tony Sutton $3,000 for using a non-profit company to hide donations intended to help the party pay legal bills for the recount. Common Cause of Minnesota says it will announce today that it is pursuing a felony criminal complaint against Sutton and the founders of the non-profit company “Count Them All Properly” (CTAP) that could result in a five-year jail term. But an email uncovered in that investigation could open a whole new case against the Minnesota Republican Party.

Buried in hundreds of documents released from the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board is an email from then state Republican Party Chair Tony Sutton that seems to indicate the party would be setting up a non-profit corporation to cover it’s legal bills for the redistricting court fight. The email was dated January 19, 2011. Two days later Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office for non-profit status.

“As to redistricting,” Sutton wrote in the email, “we will be creating a 501-c4 (which can take corporate donations and as such will be MUCH easer to raise money for than the recount fund). We did this ten years ago and that organization covered all our legal bills.”

The email was addressed to former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson who served as legal counsel to the Republican Party for the 2010 recount. “If you are interested, I will put your name forward to possibly be part of our legal team,” Sutton continued.

Magnuson ended up representing a Republican backed group before a special redistricting panel in 2011.

Read the rest at the Uptake: the Express Script corporate contribution is at the center of the potential violation. Weep or laugh as is your inclination given the follies of the former Republican chair and failed burrito baron Tony Sutton.

The report concludes:

Criminal complaint on 2010 violations to be filed today.
[ Mike] Dean will announce later today that Common Cause is pursuing a felony criminal complaint against the two main officers of Count Them All Properly and Sutton. Since the crime is a felony, they could face a five-year jail sentence and a $20,000 fine if charged and found guilty.

And The Uptake being The Uptake, there's video:

Image: Tony Sutton's El Banco MNGOP peso. By Tild.

Related posts: Express Scripts worked to bring "certainty" to Minnesota's (GOP?) voters during redistricting

Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting funder Express Scripts pulls out of ALEC

Between the lines in Quist FEC Q2 2012 report: $4000 to Al Travis Theilfoldt

July 2012 Sixth Anniversary Bleg Notice: Like what you're reading on this blog? Help support an independent voice from Greater Minnesota:

Please consider using the paypal button above (checks accepted; email for my snail mail address) or something from my modest wish list (mostly coffee and cat treats).

The blegathon will run through July.

Thank you

Sally Jo Sorensen
Editor and Proprietor

Count Them All Properly board chair Mary Igo learned about new CEO from reading Bluestem

Bluestem hadn't waded through all the depositions attached to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board's ruling on Minnesota Common Cause's complaint about the MNGOP and Count Them All Properly, Inc. (CTAP), when a young writer drew our attention to a passage in CTAP board chair Mary Igo's statement.

The passage begins at the point when CFPDB executive director Gary Golbsmith asked the St. Paul Republican activist what she learned about CEOs on the shell corporation's listing at the Secretary of State's business records section:

Q: . . .First of all, tell me what you learned about Mr. Schroeder's being listed as CEO.

A: I don't know anything about Mr. Schroeder. And, actually, the first time I became aware of it was when

--THE WITNESS: John, I think you forwarded me the article from Blue Stream or something in Southern Minnesota that listed those two.

MR. GILMORE: Blue Stem Prairie.

THE WITNESS: Blue Stem Prairie. And I didn't know either of those names. I asked Dan if he knew those names and he didn't. I had changed the legal representative, I believe it was like December something. And at that time the Secretary of State's website had a notation on there of, how do you like our new format; you can now see the CEO and other people on the forms. I didn't realize you couldn't see it before.

The post that blogger John Gilmore--Igo's legal counsel during the deposition--forwarded to the Deponent is Sutton's secretive slush fund, Count Them All Properly, Inc., changes management.

This surprise provokes a couple of reflections. First, we are happy to have been of service and to learn that keeping an eye on the slush fund was helpful to someone. Second, that people of all political persuasions read Bluestem.

Third: was Mr. Gilmore acting as Mary Igo's friend or was he acting as her attorney (or a Count Them All Properly Inc lawyer) when he forwarded the article? If he was her/CTAP's lawyer, when did he begin working in that position?

If Bluestem recalls correctly, Gilmore has echoed Michael Brodkorb,  blaming Tom Emmer for the problems surrounding the recount, as have most Progressive bloggers to varying degrees. Reading the deposits and Cyndy Brucato's Stung by fines and ruling, Minnesota GOP tries to regroup in MinnPost this morning suggests that, however one might not like Mr. Emmer's politics, failed burrito baron Tony Sutton is now far more on the hook for the party's financial woes than the unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate who ended up paying many of the party's county recount bills:

With the party’s new leadership, it’s time to move forward, [Emmer] said, because “who are you going to punish?”

“Tony Sutton,” responds a chorus of Republican activists, new and old – and the campaign finance board agreed. Although it placed some of the blame for the party’s sloppy financial reporting on its former treasurer, David Sturrock, the board named the former chair as the ultimate responsible party. Sutton alone received a personal fine.

Photoshopped : Tony Sutton's Bank of the MNGOP peso bill, by Tild.

Related posts: Sutton's secretive slush fund, Count Them All Properly, Inc., changes management

Missing at Minnpost: Why isn't Tony Sutton talking about Count Them All Properly Inc.recount fund?

Spectre of failed burrito baron haunts GOP as authorities scrutinize Count Them All Properly

That's some funny money: failed burrito baron, MNGOP, shell corp fined big time for recount

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That's some funny money: failed burrito baron, MNGOP, shell corp fined big time for recount

As early as December 3, 2010, Bluestem posted about the troubles the Republican Party was having paying counties for recount costs. And while other bloggers pointed the finger at unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer as the cad, Bluestem leaned toward the hijacking of the recount by Sutton and Brodkorb:

It's looking more and more that failed taco lord  and MNGOP chair Tony Sutton runs the party's recount    much like he's run his ailing franchise restaurant empire.

Last night in Recount Investigation: Calculating Another Cost, KEYC Fox reported:

County Auditors have been busy this week recounting election night ballots...but they've also been working hard to finish an even tougher task.Both political parties involved in the recount are asking counties for copies of data practices and election documents. . . .

The deets may bedevil the MNGOP in public opinion (ellipses in the original copy; I've divided the copy into visual paragraphs for readibility):

Bridgette Kennedy, Nicollet County Auditor say, "Staff has been stretched really thin and I don't say that only for Nicollet County but I know that's across the state, everybody's in the same boat.

That's because every county in the state was contacted by the Republican Party the day after the election and asked to produce a long list of election documents...Documents that were also requested by DFLers a week later. . .

As the months wore on, honest Republicans told us to look more at Count Them All Properly, a Republican shell committee set up by Sutton to handle the recount costs. Indeed, by July 2011, we asked Did Emmer finish paying party's bills? MNGOP to pay failed burrito baron $100,000 salary and on January 2, 2012, we noted that Sutton's secretive slush fund, Count Them All Properly, Inc., changes management.

We weren't the only ones watching, and fortunately, Common Cause Minnesota acted on the growing clouds of smoke that might well mean fire:

On January 4, 2012, the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board received a complaint from Common Cause Minnesota (CCM) signed by Mike Dean, its Executive Director, regarding the Republican Party of Minnesota (RPM). Although not specifically identified as respondents, the complaint also made allegations that, if true, could result in statutory violations by Mr. David Sturrock, RPM treasurer, Count Them All Properly, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (CTAP), Mr. Dan Puhl, incorporator of CTAP, Mr. Tony Sutton, former RPM Chairman, and others.

The findings of the investigation that complaint triggered are online here and the supporting evidence here.

For the short skinny: news reports. Writing for Politics in Minnesota, Brianna Bierschbach reports in MN GOP on the hook for recount debts, Sutton and party fined:

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has found that the Republican Party of Minnesota is responsible for nearly $600,000 in legal fees accrued during the 2010 gubernatorial recount and has fined the party $27,000 and former party Chairman Tony Sutton $3,000 for failure to properly report to the board. . . .

The board found that instead of operating recount activities through the corporation, Sutton worked through the state party, thus putting current leadership and members on the hook for the fees.

“Mr. Sutton’s recollection and understanding of the events concerning his retention of counsel to assist with the recount was contradicted by each of the attorneys that he hired,” the report said. “All three lawyers testified that they understood they were working for the RPM. Mr. Sutton alone suggests that the lawyers understood that they would be or were working for an independent entity. In fact, after [Count Them All Properly] was formed, the law firm of Trimble and Associates had Mr. Sutton sign a guaranty agreement confirming that the RPM was responsible for its fees.” . . .

At MPR, political reporter Tom Scheck writes in Minn. GOP, former chairman face fines over recount:

Minnesota Campaign Finance Board Executive Director Gary Goldsmith said the board found that the recount effort was conducted by the party and funding for it should have been disclosed.

"Minnesota statutes prohibit routing a contribution through some other entity for the benefit of yet a third, namely the Republican Party, for the purpose of avoiding disclosure," Godlsmith said. "And the board concluded that that is what in fact what Mr. Sutton had done in this case, and by extension the Republican Party."

Both Bierschbach and Scheck note that Sutton could face criminal charges if a county attorney decides to pursue the matter.

Scheck notes that over at Dispatches from the Trenches, Sutton's blog, the failed burrito baron continues to dig.

Bluestem will have more after we've had a chance to fully savor the documents. Kudoes to Mike Dean and Common Cause Minnesota for their watchdog role in this sad chapter of Minnesota political history.

Image: Tony Sutton's funny money, by Tild.

July 2012 Sixth Anniversary Bleg Notice: Like what you're reading on this blog? Help support an independent voice from Greater Minnesota:

Please consider using the paypal button above (checks accepted; email for my snail mail address) or something from my modest wish list (mostly coffee and cat treats).

The blegathon will run through July.

Thank you

Sally Jo Sorensen
Editor and Proprietor

Mendota Heights white supremacist Joseph Benjamin Thomas cops federal meth plea

The Mendota Heights Patch's Danielle Cabot reports in Mendota Heights 'Domestic Terrorist' Pleads Guilty:

A Mendota Heights man pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of high-purity methamphetamine in a case related to a federal investigation of white supremacist activity.

Joseph Benjamin Thomas, 42,  and an accused accomplice, Samuel Johnson of Austin, 31, were indicted in April. Johnson was indicted on weapons charges.

According to reports by the Associated Press, the men had gathered weapons and planned to bomb the Mexican consulate in St. Paul.

In Mendota Heights man pleads guilty to meth charges, the Pioneer Press adds:

Thomas told the agent that he wanted to stir debate on immigration amnesty issues and that he would risk his life for the supremacist movement, the FBI's affidavit said.

The FBI had been watching Thomas since 2010 as part domestic terrorism probe.

Photos: Joseph Benjamin Thomas in 2009, by Jaime Hokanson, Indymedia.

July 2012 Sixth Anniversary Bleg Notice: Like what you're reading on this blog? Help support an independent voice from Greater Minnesota:

Please consider using the paypal button above (checks accepted; email for my snail mail address) or something from my modest wish list (mostly coffee and cat treats).

The blegathon will run through July.

Thank you

Sally Jo Sorensen
Editor and Proprietor

Bixby Energy update: Walker pleads not guilty to new fraud charges in "clean coal" caper

Bluestem has been following developments in the Bixby Energy fraud case, but we missed two new developments last month.

In mid-June, the Pioneer Press reported that Feds add charges to Bixby Energy founder Bob Walker:

Walker, 69, was charged Tuesday, June 19, in U.S. District Court with what is called a "superseding indictment" that allows the U.S. Attorney to add on to a lone conspiracy charge filed Dec. 20 regarding Ramsey-based Bixby. . . .

In the new indictment, Walker was charged with nine counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, four counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

December's single count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud also was updated and technically becomes a new charge as well. . . .

Read the article for complete details. On Thursday, the PiPress reported that Walker had entered a non-guilty plea for all 20 charges.

Reached by phone by Bluestem, a spokesman for the Security and Exchange Commission's Chicago office, which investigated the case, said that the SEC's civil case has been delayed, pending the resolution of the criminal charges.

The investigation and charges have drawn public attention because of the high profile of board members like former CD1 congressman Gil Gutknecht, who is credited with raising questions about the corporation's management. Minnesota representatives Mary Kiffmeyer, Michael Beard and Diane Lohmer invested in the firm.

Begun as a company offering systems that heated buildings with corn fuelstock, the corporation foundered when it moved into development of coal-gasification technology. The technology never quite delivered anything.

Related posts: Beard, Lohmer & Kiffmeyer acumen pays off with investment in Bixby Energy Systems securities

Are lights out on "clean coal" Bixby Energy (and MN Republican House members' investments)?

Choosing one's companions: Gil goes from John Wayne Gacy to outing Bixby fraudsters

CEO's departure, Federal probes dirty Gutknecht's clean coal adventure

Image: The promise of clean coal delivered little beyond this spiffy artist's rendition via Finance and Commerce.

Austin neo-nazi and felon Sam Johnson pleads guilty to federal gun charge for assault rifle

Since 2009, Bluestem has been following the career of Austin neo-nazi leader Sam Johnson, who turned up in our daily reading when he began to protest the presence of immigrants in Southern Minnesota.

Yesterday, the FBI issued a press release noting that Johnson had pleaded guilty to possessing an assault rifle:

Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 31-year-old felon from Austin pleaded guilty to possessing an assault rifle. Samuel James Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Johnson, who was indicted on April 17, 2012, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle.

In his plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on November 4, 2010, he possessed a .39-caliber, semi-automatic assault rifle. Because he is a felon, Johnson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Johnson’s criminal history includes a number of convictions in Mower County: attempted simple robbery (2000), simple robbery (2007), possession of a short-barreled shotgun (2007), and sale of a simulated controlled substance (2007). In addition, Johnson has a Hennepin County conviction for felony theft (1999).

Since at least three of Johnson’s prior felony convictions were for crimes of violence or serious drug crimes, sentencing in the current case will be subject to the Armed Career Criminal Act, which mandates a minimum of 15 years in federal prison. The maximum sentence is life in prison. Judge Kyle will determine Johnson’s sentence at a future hearing.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the University of Minnesota Police Department; the Minneapolis Police Department; the St. Paul Police Department; the Fairmont Police Department; and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter.

Bluestem supports gun rights, but part of the equation for owning guns for protection and recreation is remaining law abiding. Johnson, who can fairly be called a career criminal, was anything but law-abiding, as the litany of his offenses reveals.

The Associated Press reports (via the Rochester Post Bulletin) in Suspected supremacist from Austin pleads guilty, could get 15 years on weapons charge:

An Austin man with suspected ties to white supremacist groups faces at least 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to a weapons charge. . . .

An affidavit unsealed earlier this year alleged that Johnson had amassed guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition as part of a plan to attack the government, minorities and others.

He also tried to recruit others to his cause and actively scouted for a training compound in Illinois and Minnesota, the affidavit said.

Bluestem understands the reportorial convention, but there's more than suspicions that Johnson has ties to white supremacist groups. We interviewed him in 2009, and it's not edgy to call him as he sees himself.

However, the AP is to be praised for noting the suspicions of the authorities that Johnson has ties to groups where he has assumed leadership roles. In 2009, the reluctance (or oversight) to do so on the part of local newspapers led to an embarrassing moment for an anti-immigrant blogger at True North.

David Neiwert wrote in The mainstreaming of the radical right: Conservatives run and hide from their culpability in spreading hate:

Recently, Kevin Ecker of the right-wing Minnesota superblog True North posted the following item:

Political activism at it's best is honest grassroots efforts by people finally fed up with lying politicians who decide to do something about an issue rather than just complain. We have a great example of that coming up here in Minnesota on the immigration issue.

On Saturday, July 11th at 2 PM, there will be a rally held at the Mower County Courthouse. It's located at 201 First Street NE, Austin, MN. This will be the second rally in a month at that location.

Basically Austin is a town that the residents feel has been devastated by illegal immigration, and a lone resident, Sam Johnson, finally got fed up. He organized the first rally despite being up against professionally organized counter protests by the likes of La Raza, Centro Campesino and various Marxist organizations bussed in from the cities.

So Sam Johnson and his supporters need your help to rally the people necessary to stand against illegal immigration. South Eastern Minnesota has become a battleground on this issue and the public needs to know that they don't have to just stand by and let their towns be overrun as a result of apathy from both Washington DC and St. Paul.

You can contact Sam Johnson by email : nsmsoutheastmn -at- gmail -dot- com

Now, note that e-mail address: Yep, that's "NSM Southeast MN" -- or "National Socialist Movement Southeast Minnesota." You'd think that would have been a little red flag for Kevin Ecker.

Ah, yes. The "honest grassroots." Read the rest of Neiwert's post. He quotes one part of Bluestem's Johnson interview, which will give most readers an understanding of identifying the Austin man as a radical racist isn't name-calling:

"Minorities should not be citizens," Johnson said, "only 100 percent true white Americans." He outlined his vision of a nation in which all people of color would be stripped of their citizenship, no matter how long their families had lived in the United States, and moved to communities that would be strictly delineated according to race.

People of African descent would live with other people of African descent, Latinos with Latinos, Asians with Asians, American Indians with American Indians, and "real Americans" with other "real Americans. "Real American" and non-citizen status would be determined [as] having had family living in the country for five generations or 50-70 years.

Only if non-whites broke the law would they be sent back to the country of their ancestors' origins, regardless of how long their families had lived in the United States. Of course, Johnson emphasized, this would dictate deporting all immigrants living here illegally.

"Minorities could have jobs, own homes, and enjoy their own culture," he said. They simply wouldn't be citizens of the United States, nor could they become citizens. They would have to keep separate.

Photo: Sam Johnson in 2009, via Crooks and Liars. Original, Rochester Post Bulletin. Something about him made a few folks suspect he was a neo-Nazi.

Related posts: Backgrounder: 2009 NSM activity in Austin, Minnesota

NSM's SE MN Samuel Johnson: races separate and unequal

NSM SE MN's Sam Johnson, part two: that neo-old time religion

NSM SE MN's Sam Johnson, part three: old libels and a familiar political agenda

White supremacist Sam Johnson, subject of 2009 BSP interview, named in federal affidavit

 

 

Photos of Joseph Benjamin Thomas, targeted St. Paul Mexican consulate, taken at 2009 neo-nazi, Tea Party Against Amnesty rallies

Via an APNewsBreak at the Winona Daily News, Amy Forliti of the Associated Press reports in Minn. man targeted Mexican consulate:

A Minnesota man with suspected ties to white supremacist groups planned to attack the Mexican consulate in St. Paul, believing it would stir debate on immigration amnesty issues ahead of the 2012 presidential election, according to a federal affidavit obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

Joseph Benjamin Thomas also told an undercover FBI agent he considered himself a "domestic terrorist" instead of an American and would risk his life for the white supremacist movement in the event of a "race war," the FBI affidavit said.

The document, recently unsealed in federal court, provides new details about the investigation into Thomas' alleged plan. He was indicted in April on drug charges, though authorities had been watching him and another man since 2010 as part of a domestic terrorism probe.

As Bluestem Prairie noted in a long post when news of the affidavit first broke in late April, Thomas's interest in neo-nazi and xenophobic activity didn't begin in 2010. In 2009, Indymedia contributor Jaime Hokanson captured the photos at the top of this entry, writing in Anti-Racists Steal the Show at White Supremacist "Tea Party Against Amnesty":

That one guy from the Nazi rally!  He's always there, and he'll tell you that he's carrying weapons.  At the raucous Austin rally last month, local police identified him as Joseph Benjamin Thomas, 38, of Mendota Heights.  After trying to join the Nazi rally but being detained when a Mower County Deputy noticed he was wearing body armor and carrying a knife, he was questioned and stated he also had an expandable baton and a stun gun, according to the police report.  He was disarmed but allowed to pick up the weapons later.  At Saturday's rally at the Capitol, he appeared to pull some kind of weapon in the scuffle after another rally attendee knocked a protester off his bike. (Photo: Thomas at the State Capitol on Saturday (left) and at neo-Nazi rally in Austin, MN on October 17 (right).

In addition to the planned bombing of the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul, Forliti notes other focuses of Thomas's interest, as well as his engagement with Sam Johnson, who led small neo-nazi rallies in Southern Minnesota in 2009 and 2010:

n addition to the plot against the consulate, the FBI alleges, Thomas had collected license plate numbers of people with Barack Obama bumper stickers and had asked an associate to volunteer at a left-leaning bookstore to obtain customers' addresses.

The affidavit alleges that Thomas and another man arrested in April, 31-year-old Samuel James Johnson, were trying to form a supremacist group with a militant wing. . . .

The affidavit alleged Thomas wanted to carry out the attack on May 1, a day used in recent years by activists in the U.S. to hold rallies for immigrant rights. But he later said the attack couldn't happen that day, blaming personal reasons and noting more police were in the area, the affidavit said. . . .

Thomas also suggested placing hoax explosive devices along the May Day parade route in the Twin Cities, saying he had video of prior parades so he could identify parade participants.

As Bluestem noted in April, I spotted Johnson along the parade route of the May 2010 parade, and Craig Stellmacher captured video of the Austin neo-nazi for The Uptake. 

Stellmacher wrote:

Marchers told me that they knew a neo-Nazi named Sam Johnson was following the march video taping it. I fell back and went up to him and asked him if he was with the National Socialist Movement, but he denied it. But I've since Googled up his photograph and I've positively identified the man as Sam Johnson. He's repeatedly posted on white supremacy websites, gone before the Albert Lea City Council demanding they do something about immigration reform, and he's called a rally in his home town in a month too. I imagine we'll soon see his video of today's march on his NSM website. I noticed, he never engaged the crowd but always hung back 50 yards or more. Why--he was afraid of them. Craig Stellmacher

Afraid? Or do we learn in hindsight that Johnson was capturing the videotape footage that Thomas mentioned to the undercover FBI agent? Johnson and his videocamera turn up at the 8:44 point in the Uptake/Stellmacher video below:

Bluestem try to get a copy of the affidavit to learn more about what these men had planned and who they identified via parades, licences and bookstore patronage. Stay tuned.

Photo: Thomas at the State Capitol on Saturday (left) and at neo-Nazi rally in Austin, MN on October 17 (right). Courtesy Jaime Hokanson, Anti-Racists Steal the Show at White Supremacist "Tea Party Against Amnesty", Twin Cities Indymedia.

Relate post/background: White supremacist Sam Johnson, subject of 2009 BSP interview, named in federal affidavit

White supremacist Sam Johnson, subject of 2009 BSP interview, named in federal affidavit

The Star Tribune reports that white supremacist Samuel James Johnson, subject of a 2009 three-part Bluestem interview, is named in a federal affidavit unsealed this week. The last time I saw Sam Johnson was in Minneapolis, watching along the route of a large immigration rights march and rally in Minneapolis.

Amy Forliti reports in Affidavit: 2 Minn. men with ties to supremacist groups had amassed weapons with goal of attack:

Two Minnesota men with suspected ties to white supremacist groups amassed several weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition as part of a plan to attack the government, minorities and others, according to a federal affidavit unsealed this week.

Samuel James Johnson, 31, of Austin, also tried to recruit others to his cause and actively scouted for a training compound in Illinois and Minnesota, the affidavit said. Joseph Benjamin Thomas, 42, of Mendota Heights, told an undercover FBI agent that he had tried to get explosives as part of a plan to "conduct attacks on left-wing individuals," according to the affidavit.

Authorities began looking into Johnson and Thomas in 2010, as part of an investigation into domestic terrorism.

By 2010, both Johnson and Thomas were well-known to immigration rights activists, who began to clash with NSM at immigration workshops and rallies in 2009.

In Immigrants' rights activists vie for attention in Southern Minnesota, a Twin Cities Daily Planet article (reposted in TCDP partner BSP), Hart Van Denburg noted that National Socialist Movement leader Sam Johnson and two others  attended immigration workshops that brought out both sides, as the Austin Daily Herald put it in September, 2009. 

In October, Bluestem asked another guest writer, Jaime (Brian) Hokanson to submit an article about Johnson's anti-immigration rallies in Austin; Breaking Spamtown's spiral of silence: Austin and Twin Cities activists confront neo-Nazis was the result. Bluestem followed up with a review of NSM activity and press coverage, Backgrounder: 2009 NSM activity in Austin, Minnesota.  

By Halloween, award-winning writer David Neiwert had picked up the story at Crooks and Liars. In The mainstreaming of the radical right: Conservatives run and hide from their culpability in spreading hate, Neiwert noted an extended interview Bluestem conducted with Johnson.

I'd bought a "burner" cellphone and called a number Johnson had posted online after reading up on America's neo-nazi movement.  Johnson cordially shared his views during the hour and a half interview. Read them in NSM's SE MN Samuel Johnson [part one]: races separate and unequal,  NSM SE MN's Sam Johnson, part two: that neo-old time religion, and  NSM SE MN's Sam Johnson, part three: old libels and a familiar political agenda .

Other Fall 2009 BSP posts about Johnson and the media response to his activities here, here, and here.

Bluestem's work on Sam Johnson brought the tip that "Robert Erickson" would be a newsworthy speaker at the Tea Party Against Amnesty organized by anti-immigrant activist Ruthie Hendrycks and conservative radio personality Sue Jeffers. This was immigrant rights activist, glitterati, Occupy movement member and now anti-foreclosure movement organizer Nick Espinosa's first prank to break through on national blogs.

Joseph Benjamin Thomas? In Indymedia coverage of the Tea Party Against Amnesty, Hokanson captured the other white supremacist named in the unsealed indictment in Anti-Racists Steal the Show at White Supremacist "Tea Party Against Amnesty":

That one guy from the Nazi rally!  He's always there, and he'll tell you that he's carrying weapons.  At the raucous Austin rally last month, local police identified him as Joseph Benjamin Thomas, 38, of Mendota Heights.  After trying to join the Nazi rally but being detained when a Mower County Deputy noticed he was wearing body armor and carrying a knife, he was questioned and stated he also had an expandable baton and a stun gun, according to the police report.  He was disarmed but allowed to pick up the weapons later.  At Saturday's rally at the Capitol, he appeared to pull some kind of weapon in the scuffle after another rally attendee knocked a protester off his bike. (Photo: Thomas at the State Capitol on Saturday (left) and at neo-Nazi rally in Austin, MN on October 17 (right).

At the time, some journalists like Post Bulletin editor Jay Furst were dismissive of the blog coverage--but not so dismissive to turn down an appearance on Almanac the night before the Tea Party Against Amnesty. Furst praised his own paper's news judgment in not covering Johnson too much, calling him:

one fellow who had put this effort together; I think there are more people in this studio than typically turn out for the rallies. So who is he? He's a guy who's had a somewhat checkered criminal history who just happens to be a member of the National Socialist Movement and organizes rallies now and then.

Cathy Wurzer: I can hear viewers say, Well, Jay, well then, why bother to cover a guy like this?

Furst: Well, that's exactly right. And we try to balance the amount of time that we devote to this. There are certainly bigger stories than this going on in Austin. . . .

Asked about bloggers' response to the PB's coverage, Furst said, ". . .I think people recognize this as a fairly small story. . ."

Wurzer chirps in that some readers felt that Johnson was "labelled unfairly" and Furst says that the paper took some heat from bloggers that the paper hadn't called him into account as a neo-nazi. It's a real lovefest for the three, who must be pleased to see their judgement of this trivial news issue so completely confirmed by the unsealed federal affidavit. 

The Post Bulletin has posted the Johnson weapons possession indictment online, and notes the agencies involved in the investigation:

The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations; the University of Minnesota Police Department; the Minneapolis Police Department; the St. Paul Police Department; the Fairmont Police Department; and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Apparently the Department of Homeland Security were a bit more concerned by Johnson's activities than were the gentle folk at the Post Bulletin and TPT. According to the Strib report:

According to the affidavit, Johnson was a former member and Minnesota leader of the National Socialist Movement, a white nationalist group, and had gone on to form his own group, called the Aryan Liberation Movement.

With the new group, Johnson planned to "recruit and train other white supremacist sympathizers toward a final goal of committing acts of violence against the United States government and minority individuals," the affidavit said.

Thomas came to the FBI's attention when he hosted National Socialist Movement meetings in 2010 and discussed forming the new group with Johnson, the affidavit said.

As a review of online media reveals, that was not the first time Johnson and Thomas worked together in Austin.  More on their activities from the Strib:

Authorities began looking into Johnson and Thomas in 2010, as part of an investigation into domestic terrorism.

However, the men have not been charged with terrorism. Johnson was indicted earlier this month on weapons charges, and Thomas was indicted on drug charges. Court documents were unsealed this week after the men made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court.

"We certainly believed them to be a legitimate threat," said FBI spokesman Kyle Loven. When asked whether the men had any specific plans or targets, he said he could not comment because of the indictments.

The indictments said Johnson has prior convictions for armed crimes and is not allowed to have weapons, but from late 2010 through late last year he was found with five weapons — including a semi-automatic assault rifle — and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Thomas was indicted on four charges related to possession and sale of methamphetamine. . . .

Read the rest.  A spokester from the ADL, which has tracked Johnson since 2009, called Johnson a minor player and said that gun charges are " 'a very common way that extremists get arrested, and it's a very solid charge too...' "

Who were Johnson and Thomas's targets in "the government"? And who were the intended victims in Minnesota's "minority" community? And which "left-wing individuals" were to be attacked with explosives? 

Photographs:  Sam Johnson (above); Joseph Benjamin Thomas (below).

Are lights out on "clean coal" Bixby Energy (and MN Republican House members' investments)?

Just over a month ago, Bluestem posted in Beard, Lohmer & Kiffmeyer acumen pays off with investment in Bixby Energy Systems securities, a look at bad business gone south:

Beard's defense of free enterprise made us curious just how good he is at it.

When Bluestem looked at Beard's Economic Interest Statement on file with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board,  we discovered that Beard owns a company, Beard Aircraft, and hold securities in it--and Bixby Energy Systems, a private corporation involved in the development of "clean coal" technology.

The latter firm has been making headlines of late that underscore Beard's judgment. In December, 2011, the U.S. Attorney General's office noted in Bixby Energy Systems Admits Responsibility for Securities Fraud Committed by its Officers and Agents . . .

Reps. Kathy Lohmer and Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big ALEC) also sunk money into this GOP turkey farm; former Congressman Gil Gutknecht was on the board, and served as something of a knight in shining armor when the fraud was exposed.

He'd hoped to save the firm, but he's walking away, Star Tribune business columnist Neil St. Anthony reported Saturday in Bixby Energy now running on fumes. The deets:

In a recent letter to the privately held company's investors, former board chairman Gil Gutknecht and other board members said legal, technical and financial problems make it difficult to continue, though some shareholders plan to try.

Gutknecht, a former congressman and Bixby investor who stepped in to lead the company during its securities-fraud crisis last year, has resigned from the board, as have Jim Bergeron and Dave Merhar. The company's four paid employees were laid off in February, the letter said.

Though the company has customers for its coal-to-gas technology in China, engineers have struggled for months to get the first units working. . . .

. . .Meanwhile, two men who fraudulently solicited Bixby investors await sentencing in federal court, and the company's founder and former CEO, Bob Walker, awaits trial on charges he fraudulently raised $43 million from 1,800 Bixby investors. Prosecutors say the investors are "left with nothing."

Related post: Beard, Lohmer & Kiffmeyer acumen pays off with investment in Bixby Energy Systems securities

Photo: Former First District Congressman Gilknecht served from 1995-2006, when he was defeated in an upset by Congressman Tim Walz. He's campaigning that year in this photo lifted from a 2006 Daily Kos diary.

 

Cornish's shares gallows humor with DFL colleagues via publically-funded email system

Scrolling through my Facebook wall late yesterday afternoon, I noticed this post by a state representative:

During our extended floor session, Rep. Cornish sends photo to all DFL representatives with subject: Crime Bill on My Desk. It contains only a photo of a gallows with two empty nooses.

Yet another way to fostering the bipartisanship the public so desires, as well as promoting public confidence in the institution as well on Cornish's part.

I messaged the House member to see if I could have the email forwarded; a screen shot is at right. What a kidder, that Tony Cornish.

Cornish chairs the Minnesota House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance committee. That's might clever of him to send that photo to his Democratic colleagues.  What a kidder.

Given the symbolic meanings that gather around nooses these days, meanings differing by race, age and other factors, perhaps one might have wished that the chair of the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee might have been mature enough to control his wit for a moment, or at least reflected on the possibility that his colleagues on the other side of the aisle might not all share his taste in rick-rolling emails.

It's not as if he's just a poor country blogger or something. He's actually a poor country chief of police. UPDATE: Reader T.Pa Or Coffee notes: "By the way, Cornish is no longer a police chief. He resigned so that he could do a better job as a legislator."  Point taken. [end update].

But there's something else that might have given him pause if he grasped a larger sense of history: the role hanging played in Minnesota's decision to end the death penalty. In 2008, the Star Tribune's Brian Leehan reviewed that story in Botched hanging led state to halt executions:

A small item in the Wednesday Feb. 7, 1906 edition of the Minneapolis Tribune reads, "Sheriff Miesen has arranged to test the rope and gallows upon which William Williams is to be executed next Tuesday at midnight."

Ramsey County Sheriff Anton Miesen's test seems to have been successful, but it didn't keep the execution of Williams at 12:31 a.m. on Feb. 13, 1906, from being a hideously botched affair that resulted in him being the last person executed in Minnesota.

Double murderer William Williams was certainly guilty of killing his former lover (a teenager) and the lover's mother, but his death was cruel, if not usual:

Sheriff Miesen was confident of his rope's strength, and the proper functioning of the trapdoor of his gallows, but his math was faulty in calculating both the height of Williams and the gallows platform.

As the condemned man dropped, his feet hit the floor.

A lurid description in the next day's issue of the St. Paul Daily News said that William's "neck stretched four and one-half inches and the rope nearly eight inches."

So deputies quickly grabbed the rope and pulled it upward, then took turns holding Williams' feet off the ground for almost 15 minutes while the life was choked out of him.

The death certificate stated that the cause of death was strangulation.

The debacle, and the newspaper coverage of it, gave ammunition to those in the state Legislature who opposed the death penalty.

House member George MacKenzie, R-Gaylord, had tried to abolish capital punishment in Minnesota in 1905 and again in 1909. He succeeded in 1911 when Republican Gov. Adolph Eberhart signed the legislation into law.

But Bluestem suspects Cornish didn't have that in his mind--or much else--when he decided to send the "Crime Bill on My Desk" email to colleagues while they were meeting in chamber. Perhaps he should just stick to the little handcuffs pin he loves to wear.

The photo can be found on Cornish's Facebook page in an album called "Arizona Trip 2012" that documents a short stay in Tombstone. The caption below the photo there? "The Only Sure Cure for Repeat Offenders."  Stay classy, Representative Cornish.

Screenshots: The gallows humor of Tony Cornish.

Related posts: Cornish denies rumors he's running for Blue Earth County Sheriff day after spreading them

Tony Cornish likes opponent, but freaks over her totally rad liberal Facebook ties to a Democrat

 Civility and its discontents: Tony Cornish is an honorable man (just agree with him)

Former Wells Mayor Shannon Savick seeks to challenge Representative Tony Cornish

Highway to hell: why Emo Senator's adviser Golnik shouldn't recycle some old MDE posts

One of the evergreen anti-Walz complaints that Minnesota Democrats Exposed used to drag out in election years was a reckless driving rap from when Walz lived in another state, in another century.

It's never gotten much traction, but while MDE founder Michael Brodkorb was running Mike Parry's 2010 campaign, Republican friends warned us to expect yet another retread of that lore.  Now that Brodkorb is back to being the Twin Cities' media's favorite anonymous source for political dirt (this time on his fellow Republicans), facts suggest that Parry's campaign is best to avoid this talking point.

Parry's campaign now seems to be Parry and former RPM executive director and current public affairs flack Ben Golnik.  As it happens, Golnik's own brother Jon is seeking to unseat Representative Niki Tsongas in the new MA-03.

During the Republican primary in 2010, news reports emerged close to primary election day that Jon Golnik, who had then-presidential contender Tim Pawlenty's endorsed via the Minnesota Republican brother, had been picked up in 2001 as he drove home from an AC/DC concert and charged with driving while drinking and smoking pot:

[Jon] Golnik’s license was suspended. The driving under the influence of alcohol charge was continued without a finding, which allows defendants to avoid jail if they stay out of trouble. A marijuana charge was eventually dismissed.

In an interview yesterday, [Jon] Golnik acknowledged drinking and driving, but said he had not smoked marijuana and did not have rolling papers, as police said in their report. [Jon] Golnik said he was on his way home from an AC/DC concert at the FleetCenter when he was pulled over.

the news didn't seem to stick: Jon Golnik won the primary but lost the general to his Democratic opponent in the general.

Let's hope that Ben Golnik and Mike Parry won't use the sort of material in Minnesota that would be stoked to disqualify the former's own brother out East. 

Photo: Jon Golnik, who got stopped driving on the highway to hell and thereafter drove carefully, to the point that he abstained from driving to his polling place in most elections.

Choosing one's companions: Gil goes from John Wayne Gacy to outing Bixby fraudsters

Former First District Congressman Gil Gutknecht never was exactly one to discern character flaws in his running buddies. From John Wayne Gacy, his chicken shack boss in Gil's teen years and friendship with teen family killer David Brom to golf outings with page-molesting colleague Mark Foley, Gutknecht remained clueless, if not competely oblivious, to the character flaws of his companions.

He's getting a little better at it.

As BSP noted last spring, leaving office in 2007 did little for his ability to form first impressions, though it looks like he's learning to clean up after his companions. Gil hooked up with Bixby Energy, first as an investor and now a director. On December 14, the Department of Justice issued the press release, Bixby Energy Systems admits responsibility for securities fraud committed by its officers and agents.

According to the Pioneer Press, Gutknecht is one of two new company directors who is cooperating with federal authorities after ousting the fraudsters. 

Bluestem hails Gutknecht's character development.

Photo: Former congressman Gil Gutknecht.