The Faith Based Fraud

[MessiahRp]

A blog called Eye on Wisconsin did some investigative work and uncovered some amazing information of a local pastor defrauding the State and having ties to Bush. Check it out..
http://www.eyeonwisconsin.com/blog/_archives/2005/4/6/557005.html

The Blogger is being threatened with a lawsuit by RWers and would like any advice he can get from any of you DUers that are willing to help him out. That will teach him for doing actual investigative reporting eh? :shakes head:

Anyone that can offer valuable advice (DU Lawyers, I'm looking at you), please PM him.

PM him at eyeonwisconsin.com (His DU username) on DU.

Rp

[sybylla]

1. Very well researched article

For the life of me I can't imagine how a lawsuit can proceed against someone who has done such thorough research. With all of these bogus RW lawsuits cluttering our courts, I'm beginning to wish I had a law degree, a sugar daddy to support me and the experience to tackles all these assholes pro bono.

[AuntiBush]

12. Really, sybylla. I would gladly act as your Legal Aide!

Honestly...!

[sybylla]

18. Thanks, AntiBush

Now all I need is a law degree and a sugar daddy. Any volunteers?


on edit: maybe that should be a sugar daddy to help me get the law degree

[rateyes]

2. If they sue him,

he gets to depose them. They have to produce documentation. Dirty little story gets told. Threats are just that..threats. Has anyone filed a suit yet?

BTW, if he does get sued--tell him to get a Lawyer who will search under every rock.

A lot of people don't remember that the Nixon presidency had to reveal a bunch of documents because of a lawsuit, and an attorney's power to subpoena documents.

That's why I wish Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame would sue Robert Novak. IMO, He broke the law in revealing her name, regardless of who his source was, and also IMO, not only put her in harm's way, but compromised national security. He ought to go to jail for it.

[AuntiBush]

13. You know. You're right. If they sue him, all documentation would come out

in court.

Regarding documentation: Find a "History Major" at a local college. Especially a "Genealogist," "Archivest," or a "Historic Preservationist" type person.

Very good at finding documentation... I would know ;)

[ewagner]

3. Just read the blog

It appears to be very well documented and there appears to be only one or two very minor points of speculation. I'm not sure any respectable lawyer would attempt to sue him....

and ...the other posters are right....if this does go to court the "discovery" phase of it will be very, very revealing.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. And what the hell would RWers base the law sue on?

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

5. Thanks for Comments!

I am not new to reading DU but I am new to the message boards. I'm so happy that I joined because your insights, comments and support mean alot to me. I've never been one to back away from a fight even if the person threatening me is rich and powerful...with that said, I must admit that I am scared because I am a person of little means. I have worked hard for the few things that I have and don't want to lose it all. I do know a few attorneys and I'm hoping that if they do file a lawsuit that one of them can help me for a good price. Thanks for your support and any advice is welcome. I will keep you posted if/when they actually file a lawsuit.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Well, welcome, eyeonwisconsin! I liked your blog so much that

I copied it to my special file....now over 4,000 editorials, articles, and bits of info. Someday, after I've retired to Ireland, I just might write a book on the 'Fall of the American Empire'!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

7. These people are thieves...

I work in the world of federally-sponsored research, and any application that includes the siblings and in-laws of the applicant is a slam-dunk case of Conflict of Interest. I mean, this is like doing 100 mph in a freaking school zone -- the only thing that's preventing a GAO audit is the fact that they guy is a high-profile Oreo for the Bush Administration.

My advice: Google the phrases "Quit Tam" and "lawyer". Find a good firm (maybe in the Chicago area) and present your research to them. You might be eligible to file a Quit Tam lawsuit against Daniels under the False Claims Act.

[sybylla]

8. Excellent idea - and Welcome eyeonwisconsin.com

Look for the quit tam pronto. It could mean reward money for you, eyeonwisconsin, rather than coughing up money to defend yourself against a lawsuit. But time is of the essence.

Good luck on this endeavor! It's nice to see another Wisconsinite join the ranks of DUers. We're behind you all the way.

[AuntiBush]

14. All Attorneys "Must" Perform A Certain Amount of Pro Bono Per Year

Have you checked online (http://www.google.com/) for an "activist-type" law firm that specializes in this very subject? I know there are plenty in and around the Washington, D.C. area.

Many of the really "good" lawyers are so busy in court, they barely have time but trust me on this... call around. Don't give-up. One lawyer might refer you to that 1 special one.

Court procedures such as this would reveal a lot, even in the judges chambers. It would take a lot of nerve for a group such as the one mentioned to afford to have their "files" opened publicly.

Threats for the most part are merely "idle," as in "idle threats." Me thinks they protest too much. You obviously have hit a "nerve."

Think about it. Don't panic, whatever you do. They win, then.

[AuntiBush]

15. Have you contacted the ACLU?

http://www.aclu.org/

Here are 2 google searchs for pro bono lawyers in your area. Ignore that "conservative" one, second from the top:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Milwaukee+Pro+Bono+activist+lawyer&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Milwaukee+Pro+Bono+lawyer&btnG=Search

[ewagner]

9. btw

Welcome to DU eyeonwisconsin.com.....

:toast: :hi:

[RevCheesehead]

10. Sedgwick Daniels is an IRS audit waiting to be investigated.

The whole deal with his home, tax-exempt status, etc., is enough for the IRS to open an investigation. But really, if he's using tax dollars to fund all this, this guy belongs in jail.

Jesus is NOT happy about this! :grr:

[RevCheesehead]

11. Be sure to nominate this, so people will see it! n/t

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

24. Nominate?

How do you nominate the article and for what? Whatever the case may be I would like as many people as possible to read it.

[MessiahRp]

25. Go up to the original post I made

and on the bottom there are small link options. One says Recommend, I believe. If you nominate it, it gets a ranking in the "Greatest Threads" section where even more people can see it.

Rp

[sybylla]

26. At the bottom of the original post on the left hand side

you will see a link to "nominate this thread for the greatest page" and that this thread already has 8 nominations. It only needed three to go to the greatest page where DUers go to see the threads selected by DUers as important or well done.

The first fifteen or so posts were all Wisconsinites. The rest have come since it made the greatest page. Loads of people are already seeing it. You may be new enough that you can't nominate the thread. But there are others nominating it.

You can see it on the greatest page here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=greatest_threads

At the moment, it is about twenty entries down the righthand column.

Congrats! :toast: Your story has made the DU Greatest page.

[Mich Otter]

16. The blog is down..

I tried to check the story but the blog is down. Does anyone have a way to show the story?

[sybylla]

19. It's up now and seems to be working for me at least. n/t

[Mich Otter]

20. Thanks, it is back up.

[SmileMaker]

17. Your blog is down - is there some other place we can read this?

Or, if this is saved somewhere? I'd like to read it. I was reading that the Scientologists are pretty lawsuit-happy and Republican-friendly. We need to keep shining a light on faith-based fraud. Sun Myung Moon is another faith-based operation that is a front for a criminal cult.

Good luck EyeOnWisconsin.com! You've arrived at a supportive place.

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

21. Update

Hello everyone and thanks for all the great ideas and comments. I spoke with an attorney that I do some work for and he tells me that they would never win this case against me.He thinks that obviously they are trying to shut me up and/or make me spend alot of money to defend myself. The attorney did tell me that I may want to edit in a few places just to be safe...but it does not take away from the message.

They were also threatening blog harbor to shut me down but they refused. They also are demanding my identity and personal information from blog harbor but they will not give that without a subpoena. I will be planning my strategy over the weekend. I want to be ready to take the fight to them (from every angle) the moment I get a summons...if that even happens.

I'll keep you all posted.
Oh, and the sight seem to be working fine right now.

[EC]

22. I'll bet there are set-ups like this in every state

I wonder about that church in NC that threw out the Democrat voters?

On edit: When threatened in the 60's we did whatever we could for exposure, send this to Air America - Mike Malloy would be a good start, he hits on the faith-based stuff allot, and Wisconsin papers...

I don't want our state going red, this has to be stopped...This is exactly what I worried about with the faith-based inititives...

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

23. Tried to Get Exposure Originally

I originally posted this on April 6th. I sent out press releases to the Shepherd Express, Journal Sentinel,Milwaukee Magazine and Q-Life. I also sent press releases to several Madison papers and TV and Radio stations in Milwaukee, including WPR. I also paid for advertising in the Shepherd Express and Q-Life. Milwaukee Magazine did call me but I think that was only because they did a cover story on this family during the same month (mostly a puff piece).

I did send an email to both Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes (originally) but did not get a response...but I'm sure they must get tons of email.

The first time no one really responded, I will do it again now that the individuals involved are starting trouble with me.

[EC]

27. Write them in hard copy and phone them

I'm sure that at least Mike would be interested, since like I said, he's suspicious of the faith based initiatives anyway...

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

29. I'll Do that This Weekend

I'll write a letter and send a hard copy with it. I will also phone them. You are right...I love Mike's show and he would be a great person to send the story. Thanks for emailing him!

[EC]

28. I sent an e-mail to Malloy's

producer, so let's see if that help's anything...

[MessiahRp]

30. Audio of a threat made to EyeonWisconsin....

Might find this interesting to say the least...

http://www.eyeonwisconsin.com/blog/_archives/2005/6/14/940435.html

Rp

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

31. Sorry, this is not a threat...

Based on the MP3, I can't tell if this is a person calling to complain or calling to correct "inaccuracies" that might actually bolster the work that's already been done. Friend or foe? Can't tell from this message.

[MessiahRp]

33. Sorry I should have worded my subject line differently

But it is strange considering the threats he had been receiving.

Rp

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

32. I think I know who this is...

If you have listened to the mp3 file...the person is very cryptic and does not give any contact info or direct info at all. I believe based on other contacts that were made around the same time....that this may be a family member spoken of in the story (or a representative). Like I said in the latest post...if they would come forward and give me a fact that I got wrong in the story I'd be happy to correct...but I don't think that is what is going on here...I think they are upset at the story itself.I do know that they threatened the host for my blog to take it down entirely....or else.

[ralps]

34. WOW!!!!! What a report!!! Congratulations eyeonwisconsin.com!!!

:toast: :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :applause: :applause: :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[eyeonwisconsin.com]

35. Thanks...More to Come....

Thanks for your kind words. There is more to come on this issue as I am looking past several other troubling layers on this subject. I should be posting new info in less than a week and then more in maybe a month...it all depends on the various agencies involved getting me the docs I've requested.
BTW...love your artwork and pictures...photography is a hobby of mine.

[ralps]

36. Thanks for your comments, and thanks for your work.

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo: