Capper’s Work Computer Seized

Well, well… I see that capper is in a wee bit of trouble. 

The Milwaukee County District Attorney is investigating a Milwaukee County health department employee suspected of operating three political internet blogs during work hours based on a complaint filed by CRG Network Director of Field Operations Orville Seymer.

Wisconsin law prohibits public employees from using taxpayer resources for political purposes. A government employee running political blogs at work is clearly seem to be a taxpayer-funded political activity.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office has taken possession of the government computer used by Christopher Liebenthal, a Milwaukee County employee who operates the three political blogs. Computer records show he was posting to his blog during work hours and possibly from taxpayer-funded computers.

Liebenthal has been active in Milwaukee County First and AFSCME Local 48. He has blogged or maintained web pages for those groups as well as his own. Blogging under the name “Capper,” Liebenthal writes for two political blogs called Cognitive Dissidence and Whallah! Numerous political columns by “Capper” [Liebenthal] were posted during working hours.

I guess we’ll see what the investigation reveals. 

In a larger context, this should remind everyone who posts stuff online - whether it be on a blog, facebook, twitter, or whatever - that there is a time and a place for everything.  If it illegal for you to post online at your job, then don’t do it.  If your workplace forbids it, then don’t do it.  If your employer is cool with it, then just be respectful of the time you spend doing it.  It’s pretty simple. 

1. That’s gonna leave a mark.

   Posted by Deeka on June 16, 2010 at 1957 hrs




2. To be fair, we don’t know capper’s work schedule. Maybe he was posting when he was off.

   If he did what he is accused of doing, then he certainly should be punished. But I’m afraid there might be some wishful thinking going on by people who want him to be punished for a whole lot of other things and this is just convenient.

   Time will tell, I guess.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 16, 2010 at 2010 hrs




3. Wendy, if he was using his work computer, I believe that would be “guilty”.  Regardless of hours.

   Posted by Deeka on June 16, 2010 at 2029 hrs




4. I believe that has yet to be determined, is all I’m saying. I can wait a little while for the investigation to be finished before hanging the guy.

   How many times have conservatives been accused of things and tried in the media before the facts were known? We get all mad at that, why can’t we wait a little bit in this case?

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 16, 2010 at 2036 hrs




5. Talked to a friend of mine this afternoon who happens to be an arbitrator-mediator with 30 yrs service with Wis. Empl. Relations Dept. and now semi-retired consultant.  He said past precedent will determine how this is handled.  They will investigate, union will defend him and past practice will determine what happens.  In other words, how were other employees handled when this happened.  Were they terminated, or did they just get discipline.  He also said “crapper” was stupid to do this because all govt. employees should know better than to do personal work on company time and ignorance is no excuse.  Does anyone here remember the big stink a few years ago about legislative aides doing campaign work on state time. There is still a Republican waiting for his day in court over this. 
   This does not break my heart about “crapper”.  I find his comments mean, vile, vulgar and anything that happens to him comes from his own making.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 16, 2010 at 2048 hrs




6. I’m sure it’s all Scott Walker’s fault….

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 16, 2010 at 2050 hrs




7. Anyone can spur an investigation. There’s an attorney in Brookfield that had Paul Bucher running all over the place for a few months about some aldermen here a few years ago, but it never went anywhere.

   Someone makes a complaint, a DA is obligated to take it seriously. Capper may not make anyone’s Christmas card list, but I have to think he was careful. You don’t play the game as hard as he does and not know the rules. As Wendy said, time will tell.

   Posted by Cindy K on June 16, 2010 at 2136 hrs




8. Note that CRG identified three dates when Chris was supposedly blogging on County time.  But those were two furlough days and a vacation day—facts Chris actually stated publicly on the internets on the days he made the very posts in question.

   I mean, yeah, we don’t know what the computer search will show.  But a 30-second google search might have stopped CRG from going to the DA and actually wasting taxpayer resources.

   Posted by folkbum on June 16, 2010 at 2221 hrs




9. I hope he didn’t draft any of his posts on a county resource Jay.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 16, 2010 at 2228 hrs




10. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy…

    Posted by Calvin Freiburger on June 16, 2010 at 2323 hrs




11. Yup.

    We will all sit here politely to make sure that Capper is treated fairly…. just the same way he would wish it on his opponents.

    Screw him….  let’s treat him like he would treat any of us.

    Let him sink below the scum that he has helped create.

    I do enjoy the kindness that so many have talked about, but get real…. you are swimming with sharks who would dance on your graves. Stop being so generous.

    Lets hope he has abused the law the same way he would steal form taxpayers to continue his salary for doing virtually nothing to help anyone.

    Capper is an unprofessional union hack and it would be a gleeful event to have him prosecuted.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0022 hrs




12. I agree with Wendy. Wait until investigation is over before hanging him. Also, Capper is a friend. Despite our political differences, we get on great. He also makes decent camp burgers, and his wife is nice. I can’t wish him ill.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0630 hrs




13. {Comment removed by administrator.}

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0803 hrs




14. And if he doesn’t resign???  Crapper does not strike me as an “honorable” man if this turns out to be true.  He’s nasty, mean, vile, vulgar, etc. etc.  He’s got too much invested in being a union thug to give up without a fight.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0827 hrs




15. Woohoo!  Another government person working hard for the taxpayer!  He should be given a medal and a parade held in his honor!  Keep paying your fair share citizens!

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on June 17, 2010 at 0834 hrs




16. If inside source is real, laws have been broken.  They need to be enforced or they mean nothing.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0840 hrs




17. I’m sure he’ll get the same treatment in the media as Darlene Wink. [/sarc]

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0850 hrs




18. While capper assumes the guilt of any conservative, without evidence, I won’t return that ‘favor’.  Even though, having been a target of his a time or two myself, unlike him, I’m going to assume innocence until proven guilty.  I won’t stoop to their level.  Gonna have to agree with Wendy.

    Posted by Kate on June 17, 2010 at 0855 hrs




19. I also agree with Wendy.  I will not stoop to Capper’s level.  I have also gotten into it a few times with him, but unlike him, I simply disengage…you can’t rationalize with an irrational person.  Having said that, I will not presume guilt until there is evidence of guilt.  Do I think he used county time/property?  Probably.  Is there proof?  Not yet.

    Posted by Chris from Racine on June 17, 2010 at 0905 hrs




20. Ok Inside source had me going until he hit Rape Fantasy of Jessica McBride. 

    I’m sure they also found tentacle porn.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0936 hrs




21. {Comment removed by administrator.}

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 0942 hrs




22. Thoughts…

    Interesting that the Journal Sentinel has ignored this so far…

    If Capper is found guilty on this, he’ll write a post blasting Scott Walker for having county employees that waste county resources.

    Posted by Fred on June 17, 2010 at 1012 hrs




23. The comments made by “Inside Source” are not true, and the investigation has uncovered no such thing.

    Please don’t use this space as an opportunity to slime someone you don’t like. Get your own blog.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 1028 hrs




24. The comments made by “Inside Source” are not true, and the investigation has uncovered no such thing.

    Imagine me making a McCauley Culkin face from Home Alone, because that’s the most shocking thing I’ve ever heard.

    Seriously, though, thanks for that, Wendy.

    Posted by folkbum on June 17, 2010 at 1108 hrs




25. Interesting

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 1223 hrs




26. http://num6ersgame.blogspot.com/2010/06/addition al-data-on-suspicious-blog.html

    Despite what little folkbum says, there’s still days and times where Capper is breaking the law.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 1422 hrs




27. Toast, you mean like the blog posts CRG lists on Memorial Day?  On Martin Luther King Day?  Maybe you mean the comment they cited that read, in its entirety, “And before you get your undies in a bundle, yes, today is a pre-approved vacation day, as was yesterday”?  Not to mention the continued listing of furlough days, which are public record and have already been pointed out to them.

    Again, who knows what’s on the computer.  But CRG is doing an incredibly embarrassing job of this so far.

    Posted by folkbum on June 17, 2010 at 1451 hrs




28. Jay,

    I think it’s fairly obvious that Chris was posting on county time.  It wasn’t until about 6 months ago that Chris started walking more carefully due to a threatened open records request on his time card.  Before that, he was out-blogging everyone in the state - an impossible feat unless you are unemployed.

    I also noticed that your comments about his public computer are guarded.  I think that’s a wise move, and I also think you know he was posting on county time.

    I also believe that they had some initial evidence to engage in this investigation before an announcement was made.  When someone’s cookie function was turned off on their public computer, it’s likely they are doing something they shouldn’t be doing on county time.

    That being said, do I believe that the DA should be involved in this investigation?  No.  Unless Capper was posting on his “Milwaukee County First” website on county time, he did not violate federal law.  Blogging is not political activity unless you are working for a campaign, promoting someone’s candidacy, or even participating in a political non-profit organization. 

    Enough said.

    Posted by Aaron Rodriguez on June 17, 2010 at 1607 hrs




29. I think it�s fairly obvious that Chris was posting on county time.� It wasn�t until about 6 months ago that Chris started walking more carefully due to a threatened open records request on his time card.

    Really, Aaron?  Because, just as a point of comparison, here’s the list of time stamps on CogDis posts from this week a year ago:
    6:22 AM
    10:01 PM
    11:16 PM
    7:18 AM
    12:07 AM
    11:13 PM
    10:33 PM
    11:38 PM
    11:10 PM
    10:46 PM
    12:27 AM

    That doesn’t seem to me like any more than he’s currently posting or any different in terms of all being not during work hours.

    You’re right that I’m hedging on the contents of the computer.  I can’t verify that from where I’m sitting now.  But what I can verify is that CRG is posting a lot of nonsense, claiming that Chris was blogging on County time and using as evidence posts and comments written on holidays, vacation days (one of their cited items is a comment that is entirely a statement that he’s on vacation!), and furlough days.  I’m not impressed with CRG’s sloppy work here.  Indeed, I’m a little embarrassed for them.

    Posted by folkbum on June 17, 2010 at 1647 hrs




30. The thing is… an analysis of time stamps is pretty stupid.  I can put whatever time I want on a post.  I think the time stamps perhaps give enough probable cause to investigate whether or not a crime (or at least a work ruled violation) has occurred, but it’s certainly not evidence. 

    As I said, we’ll have to wait and see what the investigation yields.

    Posted by Owen on June 17, 2010 at 1655 hrs




31. The thing is… an analysis of time stamps is pretty stupid

    Yes!  And that’s the entirety of CRG’s complaint against Chris!  Which they can’t even get right, because they are claiming posts Chris made on freakin’ Labor Day last year were made on County time!  How did this even get out the door at CRG?

    Posted by folkbum on June 17, 2010 at 1709 hrs




32. May I insert a question here?  If it was labor day, why was capper at work, using a taxpayer owned computer?  Just wondering.

    Posted by Kate on June 17, 2010 at 1714 hrs




33. Jay has a good point about the CRG.

    Posted by Aaron Rodriguez on June 17, 2010 at 1827 hrs




34. If Capper did not do it. Why not just say so?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 17, 2010 at 2045 hrs




35. I’m not impressed with CRG’s sloppy work here.  Indeed, I’m a little embarrassed for them.

    Apparently there seemed to be enough meat to the complaint that the DA acted on it… even going to the extent of seizing his computer. If there was nothing there but a few posts on a holiday, that would have been easily verified and no further action would be required… but yet, additional (and quite serious) steps were taken in the case. That tells me that the DA might have smelled some smoke. Where there’s smoke…

    At the very least, even if they were wrong, clearly CRG found some compelling evidence.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 0145 hrs




36. Capper has the same lawyer as Mike McGee. Again, why not just say he did not do it?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 0659 hrs




37. I’m more than a little surprised at the lack of outrage on this thread.  The government clamps down on an individual practicing his rights to political speech in order to silence him during a heated campaign and all of you Sons of This and Crusaders for That are piling on along with the government.

    I think that’s pretty much the definition of Feet of Clay.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 0818 hrs




38. @grumps This isn’t about freedom of speech - it’s about whether or not that freedom is being practiced on county property on the taxpayer’s dime.  If indeed Capper did NOT blog/comment/post on county time, then all is well.

    Posted by Chris from Racine on June 18, 2010 at 0837 hrs




39. Funny, grumps, I missed your comment when your side was piling on Darlene Wink.

    I think that’s the definition of hypocrisy.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 0838 hrs




40. on county time

    Since CRG has now apparently staked out everything after 8 AM as “on county time,” do you think they will jump on Scott Walker today for going to campaign on Sykes’s show at 8:30 this morning?

    Posted by folkbum on June 18, 2010 at 0921 hrs




41. Folkbum,

    To be fair, Walker doesn’t work a 9-5 job as county executive.  He is routinely called after work to do after work things.  His job is an on-call job 24 hours a day much like Tom Barrett’s job.

    Capper’s job is not 24 hours a day.

    And I’m quite confident that when the primary is over, you will see Barrett doing much more campaigning after 8 am.

    Posted by Aaron Rodriguez on June 18, 2010 at 1050 hrs




42. So your justification for Cappers illegal acts is Walker on Sykes’ show?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 1054 hrs




43. So your justification for Cappers illegal acts is Walker on Sykes’ show?

    A) No one has proved—and those who have alleged have done so laughably—that Chris has done anything illegal.

    B)  I personally don’t give a rat’s tail what time Walker joins Sykes for their regular wankfests.  But if CRG is going to hold one arbitrary standard against their enemies, I will call them on it when they fail to hold it against their allies.

    Posted by folkbum on June 18, 2010 at 1245 hrs




44. Folkbum, since you are such a friend of Cappers and you are getting so much great press on his blog….why don’t you simply ask him to post whether he did it or not and put all this to rest?

    It is very hard to believe someone who hires Mike McGee’s lawyer and refuses to comment on the situation is innocent.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 1248 hrs




45. Folkbum (who has the summer off).  Is just convinced of Capper’s innocence.

    I, along with most reasonable people, are going to wait until ALL the evidence is out.

    Logic would dictate that County IT people looked into their records and saw a reason to dig deeper into Capper’s work PC.  I’ll equally admit that logic does not always prevail in government.

    Jay, if Capper is found to have violated policy you are going to look very silly.

    I suggest we all just wait and see what the investigation bears out.

    Posted by Fred on June 18, 2010 at 1337 hrs




46. Folk,

    Why would the CRG go after an executive that spent the past 8 years reducing county government debt by 10% while battling the county board on raising property taxes?  Walker is their meal ticket and the only influential representative in Milwaukee County that promotes fiscal responsibility.

    Posted by Aaron Rodriguez on June 18, 2010 at 1359 hrs




47. To be fair, Fred, if you were in capper’s situation your righty blog friends, including me, would support you just like Jay is doing for capper. That’s what friends do. If Jay is wrong for his support, he and Capper can deal with that between the two of them later.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 18, 2010 at 1417 hrs




48. I have not declared his inoocence or guilt Wendy.

    I find it odd that Jay seems to think he knows more than anyone else Wendy,

    The odd thing is if this was me, Jay and Capper would be the first ones proclaiming my guilt.

    Posted by Fred on June 18, 2010 at 1456 hrs




49. Folkbum (who has the summer off)

    Boy, is that going to surprise all the people counting on me to be there Monday morning ...

    I [am] going to wait until ALL the evidence is out.

    Fred, I have said repeatedly that there may be evidence that I don’t know about.  What I do know about is the “evidence” that has been presented so far—CRG’s list of dates/times.  I have demonstrated, repeatedly, that their list is full of ... holes.

    And, frankly, if someone were accusing you, Fred, on evidence as flatly false as CRG’s in this case, I would certainly be willing to say that out loud.

    Posted by folkbum on June 18, 2010 at 1740 hrs




50. Criminy…it was a simple question, yet no one will answer it?  This is his work computer everyone is talking about, yet no one can explain why he was posting dates and times that he wasn’t at work, from a work computer.  Sheesh.  Didn’t think it was so complicated. 

    Posted by Kate on June 18, 2010 at 1749 hrs




51. Steve Jagler at BizTimes has an interesting take on the tit-for-tat angle, and even has a tip-o-the-hat to B&S commenter Inside Source.

    Posted by jimspice on June 18, 2010 at 2133 hrs




52. Read my comment on that story.  It’s not the whole story.  Perhaps, in time, I will post the entire email threads.  Meanwhile, I’d like to leave capper alone and let the investigators discover the truth.

    Posted by Owen on June 18, 2010 at 2139 hrs




53. Once again I must ask, Folkbum, have you asked him to post whether he has done it or not? He refuses to discuss it anywhere. Why would he not proclaim his innocence to the world?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 19, 2010 at 2326 hrs




54. @David:  I would venture he’s being advised by his attorney to say nothing at this point.

    Posted by Deeka on June 20, 2010 at 0522 hrs




55. David, don’t be a brat. Capper’s talking to some of us. If you aren’t on the list, there might be a reason.

    Posted by Cindy K on June 20, 2010 at 0832 hrs




56. First, Cindy I was not speaking to you. I was asking a respectful question of Folkbum. Second, if you any thing of value to add to the conversation perhaps starting with a personal insult to someone who was not speaking to you was not a specifically polite way to enter into the conversation. Third, I am sorry that I am not in the super secret special golly G Capper fan club, and since I am not I was just wandering if any of you angelic super duper folks would point out if Capper ever said he did not do it?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 20, 2010 at 0902 hrs




57. I’d answer, but I’m just not sure you’re speaking to me.

    Posted by Cindy K on June 20, 2010 at 0934 hrs




58. David, because CRG has chosen to make this a criminal matter—rather than what happened with Darlene Wink, which really became an employer-employee matter—I fully understand why Chris is maintaining his silence, and I, for one, haven’t pressured him to say anything he’s not comfortable (or has been advised against) saying.  Also, I don’t want to get subpoenaed myself; if I pester Chris and he tells me something in confidence, I could easily end up on a witness list, and I have no desire for that to be true.

    For now, I can only reiterate what I have been saying all along:  The “evidence” CRG has presented is utter shite.  They’re claiming that blogging on Memorial Day is blogging on County time, or that a comment literally reading “today is a vacation day” was posted on County time, and more just like it.  Will a search of Chris’s computer reveal evidence CRG didn’t know about (or that they know about and have refused to release)?  Maybe.  But based on what we have in front of us, which is a spreadsheet of times and dates, CRG should be running for the hills in shame.

    Posted by folkbum on June 20, 2010 at 1050 hrs




59. It is truly amazing Jay how worried you are about CRG running for the hills in shame for possibly getting something wrong.

    Name once when you were concerned over Capper running for the hills in shame after one of his ridiculous attacks.

    http://badgerblogger.com/?p=16112

    Your outrage, as usual, is selective innature.

    Posted by Fred on June 20, 2010 at 1228 hrs




60. Since CRG has now apparently staked out everything after 8 AM as “on county time,” do you think they will jump on Scott Walker today for going to campaign on Sykes’s show at 8:30 this morning?

    So, Folkbum… is it safe to assume you will have filed a complaint with the Milwaukee County D.A.?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 20, 2010 at 1843 hrs




61. Smeety, as I said in #43 (try to keep up), I don’t care when Sykes and Walker have their little lovefests.  It’s CRG who seems to have the problem, so I expect them to raise the complaint.

    Posted by folkbum on June 20, 2010 at 1853 hrs




62. Thanks jay.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 20, 2010 at 1856 hrs




63. Folkbum,

    Last time I tried to keep up, you were the one who had the problem with Walker on Sykes’s show…or did you not write post #40?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 20, 2010 at 1926 hrs




64. or did you not write post #40?

    Oh, I wrote it all right.  But you didn’t seem to actually read it.

    Posted by folkbum on June 20, 2010 at 2109 hrs




65. I read it.  You compared Capper’s illegal actions to Walker being on Sykes.  No one else suggested this, other than you…  If you feel a law has been violated, I’m just curious to how the complaint with the Milwaukee DA is going….. 
    - - - - -
    and the backtracking by Folkbum continues…

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 20, 2010 at 2129 hrs




66. Smeety, where in that comment did I say that I thought either Chris’s or Walker’s actions were illegal?

    All I did was note what CRG had posited, and pointed out an analogous situation that CRG might want to look at.

    (And by the way, I’m curious why you keep referring to Chris’s blogging from home on vacation time or furlough days or holidays as being “illegal.”  I’m sure you’ve got a good answer for that!)

    Posted by folkbum on June 20, 2010 at 2149 hrs




67. Smeety, where in that comment did I say that I thought either Chris’s or Walker’s actions were illegal?

    I never infered you said such a thing…I’m the one claiming his actions are illegal..try to keep up

    All I did was note what CRG had posited, and pointed out an analogous situation that CRG might want to look at….

    Capper’s computer was seized.  Walker did, by your unbiassed expert opinion, an ‘analogous’ act ... why hasn’t Walker’s phone records been seized?

    At the end of the day, this whole capper crap is a good thing.  Last thing we need is a bunch of lefty gov’t employees blogging all day… nothing would ever get done in gov’t

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 21, 2010 at 1306 hrs