Wisconsin has its own campaign contribution reimbursment scandal

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona has its Fiesta Bowl Scandal of political contributions from the Fiesta Bowl to Republican politicians being reimbursed by the Fiesta Bowl in violation of the law. Now Wisconsin has a similar campaign contribution reimbursement scandal. Railroad executive charged with making illegal contributions to Walker campaign:

A Wisconsin railroad magnate accused of illegally donating to Gov. Scott Walker's campaign said Monday he would plead guilty to felony charges but didn't realize he had done anything wrong when he asked employees to donate tens of thousands of dollars and then reimbursed them. 

Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. president and chief executive officer William Gardner was charged with one count of excessive political contributions and one count of unlawful political contribution. Both charges are felonies that carry a combined maximum sentence of seven years in prison and $20,000 in fines. 

Gardner struck a plea bargain calling for him to plead guilty. Prosecutors in exchange agreed to recommend he serve two years on probation. His company, meanwhile, has paid a $166,900 forfeiture, and seven employees have each agreed to pay a $250 forfeiture, state election officials said. 

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[Wisconsin law] limits individual gubernatorial contributions to $10,000 per election and prohibits furnishing money to others for political donations made in their names. 

In Wisconsin, it is also illegal to give corporate money to political candidates.

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Walker stressed that his campaign promptly returned any known contributions from Gardner. 

"We immediately returned the contributions and cooperated with the GAB," Walker said. "We were very helpful in all that."