Janesville Gazette to Judge: Call Chvala's bluff

The Janesville Gazette on Tuesday published an open letter to David Flanagan, the judge who will be deciding Chuck Chvala's sentence. They pull no punches in asking Judge Flanagan to sentence Chvala to time in jail:

Likewise, Chvala must do time. Sure, Chvala has filed testimony claiming he didn't violate campaign laws by setting up an independent group to help elect fellow Democrats to the Senate. That testimony relates to one of two felony charges that Chvala pleaded guilty to in November.

But Chvala faced nineteen felony counts before taking a deal and pleading guilty to two. He and his attorneys hope to reduce his sentence. Don't let it happen.

As defiant as ever, Chvala has suggested that if you don't follow the plea deal's suggested six-month jail sentence, he'll rescind his acceptance and go to trial.

Fine. Call his bluff.

They ultimately call on Wisconsin to enact tougher campaign finance reform, and idea which may be worth looking into but which generally makes me queazy. For the bulk of their open letter, though, they lobby hard for a tough sentence to be handed down to Chvala.