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Showing posts with label Tony Cook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tony Cook. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Indy Republican Ask All Our Readers to Pray for House, Ways & Means Chairman Tim Brown

We implore everyone out there to please pray for House, Ways & Means Chairman Tim Brown. Mister Brown is in critical condition after a motorcycle accident. Indystar’s Tony Cook, Kaitlin Lange and Chris Sikich have this information on what happened to Brown:

Indiana House Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown was hospitalized in critical condition after a motorcycle accident in northern Michigan Wednesday morning, Michigan State Police reported.

The Crawfordsville Republican was riding motorcycles with Rep. Mike Speedy, R- Indianapolis, near Mackinac Island when an SUV pulled into their path and struck Brown's motorcycle on U.S. 2.

Brown, 62, was initially transported to the Mackinac Straight Health System in St. Ignance. He was later transferred to a downstate medical center for further treatment, police said. Brown was wearing a helmet at the time of accident.

Please keep Representative Brown and his family in your thoughts and prayers. IR gives it’s best to the Brown family at this difficult time.



Thursday, August 23, 2018

Good God! Even Google starts lashing out at the BMV!

This has to be one of the weirdest stories to come out of the BMV to date. According to a story by IndyStar’s Ethan May and Amy Hameline if you tried searching for mybmv on Google you came up with some interesting results:

Google searches for "MyBMV" or "My BMV" Thursday afternoon resulted in a profanity-laced link to a website for Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

"We are aware of the result that appears when our site is searched on Google. We are working to get it fixed as quickly as possible," said Christine Meyer, the director of communications and public affairs for the BMV.

We highly recommend that you read the rest of the story over at INDYSTAR. It’s quite interesting. The story did cite this tweet by Elise Shrock over at the SouthSide Indianapolis Democratic Club:


Kara Kenney tweeted a reply to Miss Shrock we also found some other tweets about this:


Here is a screenshot of the google search results for mybmv:







Either someone has committed a booboo or Eric “High Tax” Holcomb has some explaining to do about what he is allowing to go on at the BMV. We aren’t saying that change isn’t needed at the BMV but if the Google results are any indication at least have some law changes made to avoid this kind of issue.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Todd Rokita Touts Former GOP State Chairman Cardwell’s Endorsement

Further proof has emerged that Todd Rokita intends to drive his Senate campaign into the ditch. A little earlier today the Rokita campaign issued a statement saying that former Indiana Republican State Chairman Jeff Cardwell has endorsed the Rokita Train Wreck.



You might remember that Cardwell was implicated in a scandal back in 2016. The scandal involved Cardwell using his position as state party chair to help benefit his hardware store Cardwell Home Center. We reported on the scandal back in September 2016 as it was covered by Tony Cook at IndyStar. The fact that Team Rokita is boasting of Cardwell’s endorsement shows just how tone deaf they are. Especially since Rokita used his staff as Secretary of State to help him get elected to Congress. We found this interesting reply to Rokita on Twitter and thought we would share it with all of you:


Monday, April 30, 2018

The Straw Donor Scheming of Rokita, Messer, Walorski & Renacci

Ohio Congressmen Jim Renacci

Good Evening Friends. INDY REPUBLICAN here just though we would report on one of the newest twist and turns in what has become the GOP Senate Primary from Hell here in Indiana. This latest scandal engulfs three of our Congressmen Todd Rokita, Luke Messer, and Jackie Walorski. (IR has mentioned Walorski in this previous post) We are referring to Todd, Luke and Jackie's having been accused of being involved with some campaign donation shenanigans. Last Friday April 27th, 2018 Tony Cook and Kaitlin Lange's article "Rokita, Messer deny wrongdoing in possible straw donor scheme". Mr. Cook and Ms. Lange wrote that Congressmen Rokita, Messer and Walorski:

gave and received money from Ohio Rep. Jim Renacci in what experts said may have been an improper straw donor scheme. Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, denied any wrongdoing. Rep. Jackie Walorski's campaign did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails seeking comment.

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski

Cook and Lange cite a story from the Cincinnati Enquirer by Deidre Shesgreen where Ms. Shesgreen reported about Messer and Walorski receiving contributions from Renacci between April and June of 2017. Shesgreen's story as pointed out by Cook and Lange did not mention Todd Rokita.

Congressman Todd Rokita


Cook and Lange go further and write:

Within two months of receiving a donation, all three then contributed money to Renacci's gubernatorial campaign. In Messer's case, the contribution occurred just one day after his campaign received a donation from Renacci. Under Ohio's campaign finance laws, Renacci was prohibited from transferring more than $12,707 from his federal campaign to his gubernatorial account once he announced he was dropping out of the congressional race to run for governor in March 2017

Congressmen Luke Messer


According to Cook and Lange: 

Ohio's campaign finance laws,  Prohibited Renacci from transferring more than $12,707 from his federal campaign to his gubernatorial account once he announced he was dropping out of the congressional race to run for governor in March 2017. But over the next few months, Renacci's congressional campaign gave out $56,000 to 12 House Republicans — eight of which donated a collective $26,700 back to Renacci's state campaign for governor, often within weeks or even days of receiving the contribution from Renacci's federal campaign.

The Cincinnati Enquirer spoke with election ethics expert Brendan Fischer. Fischer told the Enquirer:

"this sounds like is a straw donor scenario, where Renacci is using funds from his federal campaign account to unlawfully support his state gubernatorial run and doing it through his fellow elected officials,”

INDYSTAR makes mention of the following suspicious campaign donations:

Renacci's congressional campaign gave Messer's campaign $4,000, and his leadership PAC an additional $2,000 on June 27. The very next day, Messer's campaign donated $2,000 to Renacci's gubernatorial campaign.



As mentioned earlier in their article at the time of these donations Renacci was running in a primary for Governor of Ohio. Renacci has sense abandoned the race for Governor and is running for the U.S. Senate against Sherrod Brown. Renacci has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Walorksi, Messer and Rokita have not donated to other GOP members of Congress who like Renacci were also competing in governor's primaries. The Star examine the campaign finances of Rokita, Walorski and Messer and found they had not donate to the gubernatorial campaigns of Ron DeSantis of Florida, Diane Black of Tennessee, or Raul Labrador of Idaho.

Andy Downs political scientist at IUPU at Fort Wayne told IndyStar:

"That’s another piece of evidence that you could argue is kind of damming," said Andy Downs, a political scientist at the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. "If this is really about supporting your friends in contested primaries … or supporting a conservative candidate, why didn’t you also give to X,Y and Z?" Rokita, for example, has strong ties to both Black and DeSantis.

This isn't the first time that Congressman Renacci has been accused of being part of a straw donor scandal. IndyStar says that:

In 2014 Renacci's campaign found itself in the middle of a court case involving another alleged straw donor scheme in Ohio. Federal prosecutors accused an Ohio direct marketing firm and its owner of skirting federal campaign contribution limits by funneling about $200,000 through the company's employees and their spouses in 2011 to the campaigns of Renacci and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who was running for Senate. The company's owner, Ben Suarez, was found not guilty of violating campaign finance charges, but was sentenced to 15 months in prison for witness tampering in the case.

Given what we know especially of Rokita and Walorski. We are firmly convinced there is something extremely unethical, possibly illegal going on with this straw donor scheme of Renacci's. Especially in light of Renacci's past donor troubles back in 2011.

Earlier today on WIBC's morning show "Chick's on The Right". Rob Kendall the producer of the show had some interesting things to say about the straw donor scandal. We highly recommend that everyone listen to what Rob has to say. We thank you all again for your continued support. And bid you all good night.



Sunday, April 8, 2018

Hoosier Lawmakers will now have a Sexual Harassment Policy

Sorry to just be writing on this now have been busy with work and personal life. Back on March 22, 2018 Tony Cook penned a column about state lawmakers and some changes in regards to sexual harassment as it applies to the legislators.

Mr. Cook reports:

The overhaul (to the legislative branches sexual harassment laws and policies) comes amid a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against powerful men in Hollywood, sports, media and politics. Allegations against lawmakers in other states have forced some to resign, lose leadership posts or face disciplinary action. 

But until now, lawmakers themselves have not been governed by any specific policy. 

House Enrolled Act 1309 will require lawmakers to establish a sexual harassment policy for themselves by Nov. 20, including how allegations will be investigated. It also requires all 150 lawmakers to complete one hour of sexual harassment training each year.


As you all know Indiana Legislators are no stranger to inappropriate behavior. Who can forget how “Stud Jud” McMillin the for State House Majority Leader was forced to resign because he got hammered and sent out a sex video on his cell phone? Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana fame wrote extensively about old Jud. Rumors were even circulating that the video might be in the running for an adult film award. Or former State Representative Eric Turner who flagrantly used his position to enrich his family’s nursing home businessOr the ownership stake Turner had in a building in Marion, Indiana which was leased by ACS to be a welfare call center? Or the rumors we at IR hear all the time about some Hoosier Lawmakers who preach the sanctity of marriage and yet cheat on their spouses? Eric Turner was Speaker Pro Tempore of the State House. Number Two to House Speaker Brian Bosma. Fellow lawmakers knew of Turner’s problems for years but did nothing until shamed into doing so. Word is Turner may have been using information he had on other lawmakers to get out of trouble. 

INDY REPUBLICAN is hoping that these law changes will crackdown on sexual harassment in the state legislature, but we won’t hold our breath waiting. 

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Is Governor Holcomb Going to call the General Assembly into Special Session?


Governor Eric Holcomb 

It appears our esteemed Governor is so hard up for company that according to INDYSTAR’s Tony Cook, Kaitlin Lange, and Arika Herron good old Eric may just decide to call the recently adjourned members of the General Assembly back into session  Of course that’s 150 legislators at a cost of around $30,000 a day at taxpayer expense just so the Governor can feel more secure about himself.

Cook, Lange and Herron writing for the Indianapolis Star have the following information

Gov. Eric Holcomb faces a big decision after the General Assembly unintentionally allowed several bills — including two of the governor's top priorities — to die on the chaotic final day of the 2018 legislative session. (Note to everyone at home: the legislators didn’t “accidentally” let Lil Eric’s priorities die. Like him they are uninspiring and lifeless. They just died due to their own ineptitude)

“After meeting with Speaker (Brian) Bosma and Senator (David) Long, I’ll look at all that can be done to complete unfinished business — whether that’s by administrative or legislative authority, if needed," he (Eric Holcomb) said.


State House Speaker Brian Bosma RINO


More details could emerge Monday, when Holcomb is scheduled to hold an 11 a.m. news conference at the governor's residence.

The biggest points of contention that Governor Holcomb appears to have are over two bills. One dealing with funding for school safety, the other bill dealing with driverless cars.

The Star reports that Holcomb was so anxious to get some of his pet bills passed that he tried to extend the deadline to one a.m. from midnight for the legislators to adjourn.


Ultimately, lawmakers decided to disregard the directive amid legal questions about the move, bringing the session to a close with five bills still pending on the House floor. Casualties included two tax-related measures and a takeover plan for school districts in Muncie and Gary, in addition to the school safety and driver-less vehicle bills.

As to the costs to we the people in terms of tax dollars the Star says:

Lawmakers would receive $173 per day, including weekends, while in session. That means a special session would cost taxpayers nearly $30,000 for each day of a special session — and that doesn't include mileage lawmakers would receive for driving to and from Indianapolis once a week.

Such spending could be unpopular among Republicans who control the General Assembly, especially in what could be a tough election year. More Democratic challengers have filed to run against Republicans this year, and special elections in other states have resulted in gains for Democrats, even in districts that went heavily for President Donald Trump in 2016.

The Star gives lawmakers reactions to a special session being called as being mixed to say the least:

"Much will depend upon what the governor feels he can do regarding certain key issues without legislative action, such as money for school safety programs," State Senate President Pro Teme David Long said. "There are also key economic development issues and tax relief measures that should be addressed."

He (David Long) said it's not clear what the precise cost would be, "but if it occurs, our focus will be to keep it as short and inexpensive as possible."

His counterpart in the House, Bosma, initially seemed less interested, suggesting Thursday that leftover issues from the session could be dealt with administratively.

"I don't see anything on this list that's going to require (a special session)," he said.

But his tune changed on Friday after consulting with Holcomb's office. (IR is surprised it took Bosma THAT long to cave to his master Holcomb)

"We have had discussions with the governor’s team and have made it clear we will cooperate in every way if we determine any remaining items require legislative action," he said. "If a special session does occur, it will be limited to very a small number of critical issues, which remained on the table at the close of the regular session."

Even if Holcomb does call a special session, the timing could be complicated by an ongoing review of the Department of Child Services.

Back in January we had reported on the resignation of DCS Director Mary Beth Bonaventura which led to the current review of DCS. The review of DCS could complicate matters so much that if a special session is called now another may have to be called to deal with DCS.

More from the Star:

Democrats called for action this session, but Republicans put them off, insisting on waiting for results of the review, which are due June 21. If urgent legislative action is needed, they said, they would consider a special session.

But those promises now put them and Holcomb in an uncomfortable position. Do they wait more than three months to take care of issues like school safety? Or do they schedule a special session soon and risk the need for another one later this summer?

Those are difficult questions, especially in an election year with primaries just around the corner in May.

One thing is certain: If the governor calls a special session this year for any reason except to address problems at DCS, Democrats will pounce.

All we at IR can say is Holcomb and the other so-called Republicans in our State Legislature have seriously shot themselves and all Hoosiers in both feet! With control of the Governors office and both state houses there should be no reason at all they should need to call a special session. But largely because the Indiana GOP was to busy raising our taxes, and trying to coverup the absolute disaster that is the Department of Child Services started by former “Godfather” Governor Mitch Daniels. The taxpayers will be on the hook for even more money. Speaking of DCS is anyone at the state going to look into DCS and the murder of Tajanay Bailey over a decade ago? Tajanay Bailey’s blood cries out from the ground for justice! We can just picture Gary Welsh pounding away furiously over this if he was here now. The torch which Gary Welsh lit for all of us is being picked up!  It will burn away all the impurities that fester in this state and in the rest of these United States! Our countrymen stand up! Stand Up! All men and women of good faith and force the Governor and the lawmakers to fear We the People! Remember there has never been nor ever will be a night so dark to prevent the coming day. We are convinced that the Hoosier State will never atone of it’s sins but through the work of intractable, stubborn individualists such as ourselves, Paul Ogden, Christine Scales, Charlie White, everyday hoosiers who choose to never submit to ruthless politicians, and the master himself Gary Welsh. Gary’s soul lies a moldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on! 


Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Governor Holcomb’s Workforce Development Plan Could Cost Indiana $49 Million


Governor Eric Holcomb 

Tony Cook and Arika Herron over at IndyStar reported earlier today that the Indiana Manufacturers Association normally a Holcomb ally. Has yanked it’s support from Holcomb’s plan to reshape the state’s Workforce Development programs. 

Cook and Herron writing:

Holcomb's office publicly acknowledged for the first time Monday that the state will need a waiver from the U.S. Department of Labor to continue receiving $49 million in federal funding for Indiana workforce development programs.

"We do not have a federal waiver at this point," Holcomb's spokeswoman, Stephanie Wilson, said. "However, Gov. Holcomb and his team have been in communication with the federal Department of Labor and Secretary (Alexander) Acosta, and we believe our actions are in line with the secretary’s pledge to provide states flexibility to do what’s right."

The Indiana Manufacturers Association announced Monday it was withdrawing its support for Holcomb's proposal. Association President Brian Burton said he considers the potential loss of federal funding a critical flaw.

"This bill becomes law effective upon passage," he said. "So without a waiver, we could be in violation of federal law."

Cook and Herron make reference to the specific legislation that is the source of such tension between legislators and many business leaders throughout Indiana SB 50:

Senate Bill 50 replaces the state's Workforce Innovation Council with a new Governor's Workforce Cabinet that would have fewer members and more authority over the nine state agencies that administer about $1 billion in various workforce development programs.

But the new cabinet would not conform with federal rules for states' workforce investment boards, the governor's office confirmed Monday.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requires a majority of the board to be business representatives who reflect the state’s major employment sectors. It also requires two members from each chamber of the state legislature.

Holcomb's proposal would not include any state lawmakers and just under half would be actual business representatives. The majority of the board will be filled with state agency and education officials, with one member from a community-based organization.

States that don't meet federal requirements are at risk of losing their funding. Indiana receives about $49 million a year through the federal program. That money goes to programs that support out-of-work adults and at-risk youth, including WorkOne, the state’s employment centers.

Click here to read all of Cook and Herron’s excellent piece.

IR and Company are all wondering why Holcomb would want to antagonize the Indiana Manufacturers Association during what is shaping up to be a really bad year for Republicans. The IMA if they get mad enough could and should do everything they can to make Holcomb’s life hell. Back in November we reported on Holcomb’s administration being sued for $1 Billion over trucking fees by powerhouse GOP lawyer Jim Bopp.

Tony Cook also reported on that in November. Between pissing off the state’s Manufacturing, Trucking Industries and everyday Hoosiers by signing into law last year over 45 tax and user fee hikes. Holcomb should be run out of town on a rail. That may or may not happen but let’s all do what we can to kick Holcomb’s ass out in 2020. Barring that we make his life hell. Let’s do this for Gary Welsh. 

Update: Hayleigh Colombo has also written a good piece about the IMA’s opposition to Holcomb’s Workforce Development plan click here to read her article. And please reach out and tell Tony Cook, Arika Herron and Hayleigh Colombo to keep up the good work.

Friday, November 17, 2017

$1 Billion Trucking Fees Lawsuit filed against Eric Holcomb's Administration


It seems that Governor Eric "Bagman" Holcomb just got dragged into the middle of a huge knock down drag-out fight with fellow Indiana Republican and attorney Jim Bopp. The great Tony Cook of the Indianapolis Star reports on the upcoming slugfest between Holcomb and Bopp:

A class-action lawsuit accuses the state of Indiana of illegally collecting more than $1 billion in fees from truckers across the nation — and could set up a high-stakes showdown between two top Indiana Republicans. 

The lawsuit filed Friday in Marion County Superior Court accuses the Indiana Department of Revenue of collecting annual Unified Carrier Registration fees from hundreds of thousands of truckers across the nation without authorization under Indiana law.

The attorney behind the lawsuit is Jim Bopp, a high-powered Republican attorney from Terre Haute best known for representing Citizens United in a U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned restrictions on political spending by corporations, nonprofits and labor unions.

His client is the Small Business in Transportation Coalition, a trucking industry trade group with a colorful and controversial leader who recently organized a parade of big rigs in Washington D.C. to promote expanded gun rights and who has been accused by the Federal Trade Commission of deceptive business practices.

On the other side of the lawsuit is the administration of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb — specifically the Indiana Department of Revenue and its commissioner, Adam Krupp.

A spokeswomen for Holcomb did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the lawsuit. A spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue said she couldn't immediately comment on pending litigation.

"I’m a conservative who does not want to see government overreaching, taxing people and collecting money unless the people authorize it through the legislature," Bopp said. "What’s important to me is that government stays within its bounds. This has got to be one of the most expensive violations of law that I’ve seen."

Indeed, the stakes could be huge.
Indiana handles registrations and fees on behalf of 41 states under the so-called Unified Carrier Registration Plan, a federally authorized compact that allows interstate truckers to register and pay fees just once a year, rather than in multiple states. 
Bopp said the state collects $100 million a year in UCR fees from close to 400,000 truckers a year. The fees depend on the size of the fleet, the form of payment and location of the truck's home base, but begin at $76 per vehicle, according to the lawsuit. 
"Without such authority under Indiana law, INDOR’s nationwide collection of the UCR-related fees is unlawful and every trucker since 2008 is entitled to a refund of these illegally collected fees," Bopp said.
The lawsuit comes four months after the state settled the second of two class-action lawsuits over unauthorized Bureau of Motor Vehicle fees. Between settlements and voluntary refunds, the BMV admitted to overcharging Hoosier drivers more than $115 million over 15 years.

Well INDY REPUBLICAN doesn't know enough about this particular lawsuit to comment on the merits of Mr. Bopp's case. But Bopp's legal skills are good and he is not crazy. So for him to file such a lawsuit means that he thinks that it is a good case. So far as Governor Eric Holcomb has continued the tax-and-spend legacy of his master Mitch Daniels. It will be interesting to see just how this all goes down. Bopp is also a former Vice Chair of the Republican National Committee and has been a Republican National Committeeman from Indiana. Not exactly somebody that Holcomb wants to get into a fight with. Here's to old Eric getting his ass kicked!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Is the firing of former Indiana Homeland Security CFO a political cover up?





Indy Republican has been hearing from its readers about corruption and mismanagement at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). We have even heard rumors that IDHS is even going so far as to damage former IDHS employees to keep prying eyes away from them.

If that is what the powers that be wanted, then they are about to develop ulcers. The prying eyes are not going away.

IR's curiosity was piqued. So naturally we all decided to take a look at IDHS. And after looking into these matters. We must confess that what we found surprised even us hardened, jaded, and battle-scarred activists. But also we have a greater respect for the journalistic prowess of Sandra Chapman of WTHR-TV, and Brian Slodysko of the Associated Press, and Tony Cook of the Indianapolis Star. 

Brian Slodysko at AP in an article published today on INDYSTAR.COM "Ethics panel forever bans state government employee" had this to say:

An ethics panel found Thursday that a former state administrator violated Indiana’s nepotism law by hiring three relatives to work at her agency.

The Indiana State Ethics Commission unanimously approved banning former Department of Homeland Security administrator Leann Walton from ever working in state government.

IndyStar was the first to report Walton was fired as the agency’s chief financial officer in August 2016.

Emails produced through an investigation by Inspector General’s office show Walton hired her aunt, sister and stepdaughter to positions in the agency. Walton’s aunt and sister were in her direct line of supervision. Her stepdaughter worked in another division.

Indiana’s ethics law states that an “individual employed in an agency may not hire a relative” or have a relative in their “direct line of supervision.”

Tony Cook's August 26th, 2016 article "Indiana's homeland security CFO fired after family members hired" provides some more background information from Mrs. Walton and her attorney Steven Fulk pertaining to Mrs. Walton's termination at IDHS.

Tony Cook reported:

The state is disclosing few details about the Aug. 9 termination of Leann Walton, 47, of Danville, who had been the agency's CFO since 2012.

A Homeland Security department spokesman referred IndyStar to the state personnel department, which provided a one-sentence explanation of the firing.

"Leann Walton was dismissed from the Department of Homeland Security on 8/9/16 for poor (judgment) and lack of candor related to her involvement in the agency engaging the services of her relatives," the description said.

Neither the Homeland Security nor personnel departments would provide further details.

Walton's sister, Lisa Hunt, worked at the agency from April 29 to Aug. 5. Her aunt, Patricia Burdine, also worked at the agency from April 8 to July 22. Both were hired through a temporary agency.

State law prohibits nepotism, or the hiring of relatives. It also says employees may not be placed in a relative's direct line of supervision.

Walton and her attorney, Steven Fulk, told IndyStar that she did not play a role in the decision to hire Hunt and Burdine and did not directly supervise them. The state personnel department was aware of the relationships among the three women and signed off on the hirings, they said.

Hunt and Fulk suggested there were other motives behind the firing.

During that same period of time, Walton had been questioning "why she was the lowest paid CFO in the state, and why it appeared she was being paid less on basis of her gender," Fulk said.

When Walton was passed over for a raise in May despite three years of exceeding or meeting expectations on her annual performance reviews, she wrote a letter to the state personnel department explaining why she felt she deserved a raise, Fulk said.

A short time later, Department of Homeland Security Executive Director David Kane expressed concerns about the employment of her relatives, even though the personnel department had cleared the hirings, Walton said.

"He told me he didn’t think I understood the nepotism rule," she said.

She ended up getting approved for a raise, but was then fired, she said. Her termination letter cites "poor (judgment) and lack of candor," but does not mention her relatives, she said.

WTHR's Sandra Chapman's "13 Investigates" has this to add:

"I was terminated unfairly. I didn't hire anyone," the embattled Walton told 13 Investigates.

But Indiana's Ethics Commission disagrees and upheld charges of nepotism against her.

"Our office received numerous complaints that she was hiring relatives," said Lori Torres, the Inspector General for Indiana.

In its unanimous 5-to-zero vote Thursday, the Ethics Commission determined that Leeann Walton hid the fact that she helped her relatives get jobs.

Walton admitted she handed over resumes for her family members and reported payment information for the positions but insists she was told by a DHS personnel director there wasn't a problem.

"As long as there was no direct line of supervision, they weren't a direct report to you and you didn't participate in their interview process, which I did not, it wasn't going to be an issue. So I didn't feel like I had done anything wrong," she explained.

But investigators with the Indiana Inspector General's office say the state's nepotism rule has been updated.

"Indiana Code 4-26-16(c) simply states that an individual employed by an agency may not hire a relative. Mrs. Walton had the authority to affect the employment and all those under her office," said Stephanie Mullaney of the Inspector General’s office.

Walton's attorney argues the charges are a stretch from the intent of the law.

"There's not a single state witness that said Lee Ann Walton hired anybody. There's no basis in fact for finding she somehow violated the nepotism rules. No base in law," said Steve Fulk.

Fulk said the women were all hired by the temporary agency.

The State points to text messages Walton wrote after the secret was out.

One of Walton's staff members wrote: "...asked me if I knew if Pat was related to you. Apparently he and the director have heard the rumors. I gave Pat a heads-up and wanted to let you know too," wrote the staff member.

To which Walton replied "I'm not sure what the hell. If she has told people then she should be let go. I can't have her there."

Walton, her aunt and sister were all terminated from DHS. Walton's step-daughter took a job at another state agency. Still, Walton believes she's being targeted.

"This has been extremely difficult," said Walton, choking back tears.

"She misrepresented her role to the commission," Torres told 13 Investigates. "People are watching. It was the people at Homeland Security that made these reports to us," she added.

Walton, who worked for several state agencies over 21 years and never had disciplinary action until her firing, says she appealed the charges of nepotism because relatives of other employees are working together within state agencies.

Torres says employees may be working at the same agency, but not knowingly under the supervision of another relative. Torres says in some rare cases there could be special exceptions that are approved by the commission.

The timing of Leann Walton's termination being so close to her having complained about being passed over for a pay raise doesn't pass the smell test. Especially since her termination letter made no reference to her having allegedly hiring relatives. The State of Indiana especially since the election of former "Godfather" Governor Mitch Daniels is well known for trumping up bogus ethics violations to get rid of state employees that won't bow down and engage in the cult worship of the Governor at the time. This practice continued on under "Pampered" Pence and now Governor Eric "Bagman" Holcomb. In our experience any case in which the Indiana State Ethics Commission brings charges against a current or former state employee. It is best to operate under the assumption that the state is railroading said state employee until proven otherwise. Steven Fulk the attorney representing Leann Walton released a statement to WTHR that raises even more questions about the state's case against Walton:

"We appreciate the work of chairman James Clevenger and the members of the Indiana State Ethics Commission in their attempt to interpret and follow the rule of law. We support of the Commission's function in seeking to uphold the ethical functioning of state government.
"More importantly, I stand resolutely with my client Leann Walton and with the evidence adduced at her ethics hearing to pursue, likewise by the rule of law, the correction of the Commission's error in its order today.
"Given that the State's own witnesses admitted that Leann Walton hired and/or supervised no relatives, we are hopeful that the commission will see its error without in the necessity of judicial review. 
"IDHS employees and hearing witnesses Kim Snyder and Beth Hampshire testified that they recommended Pat Burdine and Lisa Hunt (respectively) as independent contractors, and Ashley Walton was hired by Dave Smith and Robert Johnson within the State Fire Marshal's office. There was no evidence to the contrary.
"Additionally, because these individuals were not even State employees, but KHI contractors, as the state had been under a hiring freeze since 2016, we hope the commission will see the further error in its ruling.
"As the process of correcting such errors grinds on, we remain focused on the continuing revelations of systemic mismanagement within IDHS, including inappropriate use of federal funds, fraudulent utilization of Leann Walton's electronic credentials for FEMA funding access
and cash draws, the continuing climate of retribution surrounding reporting civil rights violations within the department (such as that suffered by Leann Walton), and the intentional omission of such equal employment opportunity violations in securing federal funds through the grants application/request process--from which revelations today's erroneous ruling is but a temporary distraction." 
Steven Fulk, Attorney at Law
If Mr. Falk's statement is true that Leann Walton's electronic credentials were fraudulently used to access FEMA federal funds. Then the Holcomb administration in the words of the great Desi Arnez has "some splaining to do"! Will Falk's allegations of mismanagement of FEMA funds at IDHS come to light at a later date? We will have to wait and see. So our fellow "armchair sleuths" please feel free to examine this story about FEMA funds from WTHR's website:


Until next time from all of us here at INDY REPUBLICAN. May God Bless You and the United States of America!