I AM THE FORCE

MARCH 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ETHICS BOARD ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT OVER PLOMBON/MEYERHOFER FRAUD

Roth Judd, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Ethics Board, announced a settlement today with a former state representative known as both David Plombon and Lee Meyerhofer. "Although neither Plombon or Meyerhofer remain in the Legislature," announced Judd, "our investigators have discovered that they are, in fact, the same person." The Ethics Board assessed a $1,000 fine against Plombon/Meyerhofer, and suggested that he never again run for the Legislature under any identity.

The crack investigative staff at the Ethics Board had always been suspicious of these characters, but reopened their investigation after an anonymous complaint from a former Assembly Republican Caucus staffer. The two-year investigation concluded that Plombon became Meyerhofer in a desperate attempt to return as a member of the Legislature after his 1996 defeat. Contacts within the funeral industry apparently aided Plombon with plastic surgery, and a network of safehouses across Wisconsin. "The guys had a lot of similarities," said lead investigator Jonathan Becker, "but we always assumed they were a similar "type" rather than the same person. But their joint behaviors were a red flag that we never should have ignored."

Meyerhofer was elected to a northeastern Wisconsin Assembly district in 1998, only two years removed from Plombon's 1996 defeat.

Former colleagues of the men or man were shocked that they could have been duped by someone that at least three of them considered a friend. Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Madison) said the guy had always been fair with him, and screamed at this reporter to stop the smearing and muckraking. "PlombonMeyerhofer was always someone I could rely on to join me for a drink over breakfast," said Representative Frank Boyle (D-Tavern), "as a matter of fact, I'd still be willing to have a drink with him any time any place." Senator Glenn Grothman was not so forgiving in his comments, "I find the way he tricked the voters of Wisconsin to be despicable," said Grothman, "and it just shows that Democrats are fundamentally bad people."

In a statement released late this morning, Assembly Speaker John Gard called for a retroactive reconsideration of any close votes that occurred during the Meyerhofer/Plombon tenure. "Democrats have escaped prosecution for voter fraud and the caucus scandal," said Gard, "But I will not let them get away with faking identities in order to bolster their numbers in the Wisconsin Legislature. Thank goodness we were able to use similar issues and defeat this guy twice at the polls. I just hope and pray this snake hasn't come back again as someone new."

Plombon/Meyerhofer was apparently unapologetic about his fraudulent behavior, even bragging to investigators that he'd really pulled one over on his former colleagues and the people of Wisconsin. Although he was unavailable for comment, Plombon/Meyerhofer did release a statement from an undisclosed location which said, in part, "I always knew I was smarter than you guys down there, and now I've proven it. Na na na na na. Hey, hey, goodbye!"

Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard announced that the misconduct in public office statute was not broad enough to allow him to prosecute Democrat Plombon/Meyerhofer for what Blanchard termed, "this little prank."