"This is done and over with," said County Board Chairman Ken Koehler. It was he who told Caldwell to seek legal sanctions against Seipler and his lawyer, Blake Horwitz, claiming Seipler's request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate Keith Nygren was only harassment of a man who had taken away his job and defeated him in the Sheriff's primary election.
Caldwell said Meyer in chamber conferences with him and Horwitz Monday said the claim might have some merit except for State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's letter last year asserting he had a conflict of interest conducting an investigation himself. "The judge indicated he would probably rule against us," said Caldwell who so advised Koehler.
The Board Chairman said he could read the writing on the wall. "Obviously, we could continue the case and then we could appeal it but that would be expensive," he said. "It's not worth it."
Meyer never ruled on whether there was any reason to believe Seipler's charges about Nygren wrongdoing. Two months ago he decided that Bianchi didn't have a conflict of interest so the decision on that and whether to investigate was up to him.
Meanwhile, since Seipler filed his request for a Special Prosecutor he's been restored to duty in the Sheriff's Office after a legal battle that almost went all the way to the State Supreme Court. His federal case charging Nygren fired him for complaining about racial profiling in the Sheriff's office is still pending, however.
In the pic: Judge Thomas Meyer
5 comments:
Ken certainly would not want to testify under oath along with many, many others about the abuses of taxpayer money by elected officials along with a lot of unlawful activity. CYA - better to drop this than take the chance when the judge made it pretty clear that they would loose and Seipler would prevail. Would not want the public to know what goes on.
Seipler's reinstatement did go all the way to the State Supreme Court. Nygren appealed the Appellate Court to the Supreme but they refused to hear his nonsense.
I wouldn't believe a word Caldwell says about the judge saying there might be some merit. He has to attempt to save face. I bet the other camp has a different take on what the judge said. Why no quote from Horwitz?
Kurtz for Chairman!!
Read the NWH for a GOOD quote from Horwitz. I would assume that Gonigam did call Horwitz.
Judge said he would probably rule against the county.
That means that Seipler's claim would have some merit in the judges opinion.
Koehler should pick up the tab for Caldwell's bill; he's the one who "hired' him. We can't afford Koehler and shouldn't vote for him in November. But if he DOES get elected, then the Couty Board should have the good sense to elect someone else as Chairman.
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