A government corruption case in Wisconsin ended with a guilty finding for a state official who was alleged to have steered a contract to a travel agency that had contributed political funds to Gov. Jim Doyle. (see Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Online AP here).  According to this news report, the accused took the witness stand and testified that she had not been pressured by aides to the Governor.

One has to wonder if the government really wanted to indict her, or whether it was their intent to use her as a witness in order to move up the ladder to prosecute higher-ups.  But what happens now?  By maintaining her innocence she has reduced her chances of receiving treatment as a cooperating witness.  And yet if the government intended to proceed against higher-ups their ability to do so may likewise have been reduced by this conviction.

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