New court filing: Documents were deleted from GOP redistricting computers (wi) [View all]

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Last edited Thu Mar 14, 2013, 03:01 PM - Edit history (5)

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/new-court-filing-documents-were-deleted-from-gop-redistricting-computers-0p9530v-197833071.html

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison - Documents were deleted from state redistricting computers last year even after a lawyer for the Legislature told lawmakers' aides to preserve all records on the computers, according to documents filed Wednesday in federal court.

Nine hard drives were recently given to groups suing the state because of questions about whether legislators and their attorneys had turned over all the documents they had been ordered to provide. One of the nine hard drives was unreadable and the outside of it was dented and scratched, which suggested its metal housing had been removed, according to affidavits in the case.

In addition, some of the hard drives had a program installed on them that could remove electronic data and hide the fact that files had been deleted, according to the filing. So far, however, a computer expert has not been able to determine if the program was actually used.

A lawyer representing the law firm that helped lawmakers with redistricting called the new allegations premature and unproven.



Wrap your brain around this little additonal tidbit - Dems object to outside counsel used

On January 4, 2011, an Assembly committee approved contracts for the Madison-based Troupis Law Office and Milwaukee-based Michael Best and Frederich to consult the Legislature on legal advice related to redistricting. The move came after the law firm of O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing was fired by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The O'Neil firm was put in place when Democrats had control of both houses of the Legislature during the 2009-2010 session. The Michael Best firm employed Reince Priebus, who was, at the time, a 2011 candidate for Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The Troupis Law Office was run by James Troupis, a frequent contributor to GOP candidates.[2] Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller and Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca accused Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald and Senate President Scott Fitzgerald of engaging in political payback by hiring outside counsel[2].


http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Redistricting_in_Wisconsin