Populum Test Server » Innocent Woman Jailed by Bush US Atty Biskupic Seeks Reimbursement

Madison, Wisconsin — The innocent Georgia Thompson will never get what she deserves after US Atty Stephen Biskupic indicted, jailed, and went all-out to keep her in prison while her case was on appeal, but this state worker who spent four months behind bars before an appeal freed her filed a claim with the state today.

Thompson is seeking some $360,000 from the state Claims Board to reimburse her financial expenses incurred in defending herself from Biskupic’s prosecution.

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturned her conviction in April, with one judge deriding the evidence as “beyond thin,” and ordered her freed in an extraordinary decision after oral arguments.

Governor Jim Doyle has said in the past that he supports Thompson being reimbursed.

No statement is available on the US Atty for the Eastern District of Wisconsin’s website, and Thompson has never received an apology from Biskupic for her judicial and financial nightmare.

Update: From today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "

Sen. Russ Decker (D-Schofield), a member of the Claims Board, said he was inclined to support the payment, but that it would make more sense for the U.S. Department of Justice to foot the bill.

"I certainly will take a good look at it, but the person who ought to pay the bill is (U.S. Attorney Steven M.) Biskupic," Decker said. "He's the guy who screwed it up by going after a political agenda."

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Michael Leon is a writer living in Madison, Wisconsin. His writing has appeared nationally in The Progressive, In These Times, and CounterPunch. He can be reached at maleon64@yahoo.com.