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March 11, 2006
Medical Marijuana Opponent & Former WI Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen convicted on felony corruption charges
Posted by Gary Storck
Saturday, March 11, 2006
While the sting of the death of AB-740 has not yet abated, Wisconsin medical cannabis supporters can take some consolation in today’s jury verdict finding former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen guilty on all counts, of political corruption.
It was Jensen, as speaker, who blocked medical marijuana bills in the 1997-98 and 2001-2002 sessions from making it out of committee, inflicting needless pain and suffering on sick and dying Wisconsinites who might have benefited had they had legal access to cannabis therapy.
A Dec. 12, 2001 Associated Press article noted, "This topic has been a perennial loser here in the Assembly that has done a lot to define Madison liberals but not much to impact the debate," said Steve Baas, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Town of Waukesha).
The article appeared statewide.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal website:
Jensen convicted on all counts
MADISON -- A jury convicted state Rep. Scott Jensen on Saturday of felony misconduct for using state employees as secret campaign operatives, rejecting his claims he thought they were off the state clock and Assembly Republicans had used state workers to campaign for years.The jury deliberated for 17 hours over three days before finding Jensen guilty of three felony counts of misconduct in office and a misdemeanor count of using his public position to benefit the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee.
An extremely ambitious lawmaker who rose to the Assembly's top position in five years and harbored hopes of one day becoming governor, the Waukesha Republican now faces up to 16 years behind bars and $35,000 in fines. He also must give up his political office.
[snip]
Jensen, 45, used his position as Assembly speaker to direct his Capitol office staff and other state employees to work on his campaign and those of vulnerable GOP Assembly candidates from 1998 through 2001, prosecutors said. The goal was to expand Republicans' majority in the Assembly and gain a cheap edge over Republicans' opponents, they contended.[snip]
Posted by Gary at March 11, 2006 04:03 PM
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