Pasch Campaign Admits to Reporting Error, Federal Judge William Conley Cleared

By Kyle Maichle, Editor of Wisconsin Election Watch,

MADISON – Wisconsin Election Watch recently conducted an investigation into to a campaign contribution made to the 2011 recall campaign of Democrat Representative Sandy Pasch by Western District Federal Judge William Conley. The initial investigation looked at judges in the Eastern and Western District of Wisconsin trial courts along with the Chicago-based Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

We first broke the story on January 3rd after obtaining records from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. The records indicated Judge Conley’s Fitchburg address was listed alongside a $100 contribution to the Pasch campaign on July 28th, 2011.

Extra: Know More about Federal Judge William Conley

On January 6th, Western District Chief Deputy Clerk Joel Turner denied the facts in our article during a phone interview saying that Judge Conley had “no recollection” of making the contribution.  Representative Pasch (D-Shorewood, 10th District) ran in the 2011 recall election against long-time incumbent State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills, 8th District).  The recall came after Senator Darling supported legislation that restricted collective bargaining by public sector workers.

On January 8th, Representative Pasch emailed Wisconsin Election Watch saying her campaign made an error by incorrectly listing Judge Conley’s address on their 2011 post-election campaign finance report.  The campaign sent an amended report to the Government Accountability Board on January 7, 2014, which was available on the campaign finance reporting system the following day.

The correct address on the check was listed for a William W. Conley in Thiensville, a city located near Milwaukee.  Mr. Turner provided a copy of the check showing that it was William W. Conley who donated to Sandy Pasch in 2011.

Extra: Learn More About Wisconsin Federal Judges on Senior Status

The correction clears Judge Conley of a potential violation of the federal judicial code of conduct.  Under the code, a judge cannot make any political contributions.

Conley was confirmed to the federal bench in 2010 and has had a consistent history of contributing to Democratic Party candidates and causes including President Barack Obama, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin, 4th District), and the Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee (SSDC).  He was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2009 to fill a vacant seat previously held by Judge Barbara Crabb.  Crabb assumed Senior Status in 2010.