Scott Walker has failed Wisconsin Veterans and Servicemembers

By Ryan Alexander

Scott Walker's announcement that the year 2012 will be the “Year of the Veteran” flies in the face of the ongoing scandal in which he is embroiled. Central to the criminal corruption investigation into Scott Walker's administration is that his former Deputy Chief of Staff and his former Veterans Commission appointee are alleged to have embezzled funds intended for the widows and children of military servicemembers killed in action.

Scott Walker inexplicably ordered the transfer of control from the American Legion, a nationally recognized veterans organization, to Tim Russell, who had no experience running a non-profit. It was this action by Scott Walker that allowed Tim Russell and Kevin Kavanuagh to steal more than $60,000 from wounded veterans and families of military servicemembers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the criminal complaints reveal that Scott Walker's "Operation Freedom" event at the Milwaukee County Zoo was never about promoting Veterans, but that it was a political junket to promote Scott Walker for higher office.

Scott Walker's close association with the theft of funds intended for the families of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as his well-documented history of using Veterans as props for his political career, should cause Wisconsinites great concern over what his true motivations are for "Year of the Veteran."

Scott Walker's negligent mismanagement allowed criminal activity to occur under his watch that harmed those whose selfless service and sacrifice we cannot thank enough. If we really want to make 2012 the "Year of the Veteran," we will replace Scott Walker with a new governor whose actions will respectfully honor our commitment to military servicemembers, Veterans and their families.

For more information on the criminal activity in Scott Walker's office that led to the theft of $60,000 from Veterans organizations, visit http://www.WalkerInvestigation.com.