>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
COURT ORDERS GOVERNOR WALKER TO
FILL EMPTY SEATS IN A SPECIAL
ELECTION.
QUESTIONS OVER DEACTIVATED
VOTERS IN MILWAUKEE.
MAYOR TOM BARRETT IS HERE.
SO IS THE ATTORNEY WHO
SUCCESSFULLY SUED OVER HIS
CLIENT'S MALTREATMENT AT COPPER
LAKE.
A STUDY THAT REVEALS RUSSIAN
INFLUENCE ON TWITTER.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
23.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IN TONIGHT'S FIRST LOOK, THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE MAJORITY
AND GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER WILL
SET ABOUT UNDOING A RULING FROM
A DANE COUNTY JUDGE THIS WEEK.
THE JUDGE RULED THE GOVERNOR
MUST CALL SPECIAL ELECTIONS FOR
TWO SEATS LEFT VACANT WHEN
LEGISLATORS TOOK JOBS IN HIS
LEGISLATION.
NOW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE
CALLED AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
TO REWRITE THE LAW.
CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF SHAWN
JOHNSON JOINS US ON THIS.
SO RATHER THAN GO THE JUDICIAL
ROUTE, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SEEKING A STAY OR APPEALING THIS
RULING OUT OF DANE COUNTY,
LAWMAKERS ARE TAKING IT, AS
WE'VE SAID, INTO EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION.
>> YEAH.
THIS IS ALL HAPPENING VERY FAST.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST THURSDAY
THAT THEY WERE HEARING TESTIMONY
IN THIS CASE.
AND THE JUDGE RULED FROM THE
BENCH BECAUSE SHE SAID THE LAW
HERE WAS CLEAR THAT UNDER THE
LAW, THE GOVERNOR HAD TO ORDER
THESE SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
TODAY, WE HEARD SOME RUMBLINGS
THAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MIGHT
CALL SOME TYPE OF AN AN EXTRA
SESSION.
THEY DID IT.
AND GOVERNOR WALKER SAID HE
WOULD SIGN WHAT THEY PASS RIGHT
AWAY.
>> IN FACT, IN A STATEMENT THE
GOVERNOR RELEASED HE SAID IT
WOULD BE SENSELESS TO WASTE
TAXPAYER MONEY ON SPECIAL
ELECTIONS JUST WEEKS BEFORE
VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS WHEN THE
LEGISLATURE HAS CONCLUDED ITS
BUSINESS, CONCLUDED ITS BUSINESS
OF COURSE EXCEPT FOR THIS.
>> WE HAVE A STACK NOW OF
SPECIAL SESSIONS AND
EXTRAORDINARY SESSIONS AFTER
THIS ONE GETS CALLED WHERE THE
LEGISLATURE KEEPS EXTENDING THAT
CALENDAR THAT WAS MAYBE GOING TO
END IN FEBRUARY.
>> YOU SAID THE DANE COUNTY
JUDGE FOUND THAT IT WAS QUITE
CLEAR THAT SHE HAD TO RULE IN
THE WAY THAT SHE DID AND SO
PERHAPS IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT
GOING THE JUDICIAL ROUTE FOR THE
GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATORS
WASN'T GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
>> WE DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, THE FINAL SAY ON THIS
WOULD HAVE BEEN UP TO THE STATE
SUPREME COURT.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE LAW IF
YOU LOOK AT IT SAYS IF THERE'S A
VACANCY BEFORE THE SPECIAL
TUESDAY IN MAY THAT YOU CALL A
SPECIAL ELECTION.
THE GOVERNOR SAID BECAUSE THESE
VACANCIES OCCURRED LAST YEAR,
THAT LAW DIDN'T APPLY.
THE JUDGE SAID THAT WOULD LEAD
TO THE ABSURD RESULT BECAUSE YOU
COULD HAVE SOMEBODY LEAVE IN
EARLY MAY AND THE GOVERNOR WOULD
HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION
WHERE UNDER HIS RATIONALE HE
WOULDN'T HAVE TO FOR SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER.
>> MEANWHILE, THE PLAINTIFFS
THURSDAY, YESTERDAY, THOUGHT
THEY HAD WON THIS CASE.
AND THEY DID.
IT STILL HAS THIS NEXT STEP TO
GO, OF COURSE.
BUT WHAT WERE THE PLAINTIFFS
SAYING?
>> ALVIN MEYER WAS ONE OF THE
PLAINTIFFS WHO WAS THERE AT THE
COURT HEARING ON THURSDAY.
AFTERWARD HE SAID HE WAS HAPPY.
HE SAID HE WAS A TAXPAYER AND HE
DESERVED TO HAVE A SENATOR LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> IT'S THE VIEW THAT THE ROLE
OF LEGISLATORS SO INSIGNIFICANT
THAT WE DON'T NEED ONE FOR A
YEAR?
I JUST DON'T COMPREHEND THAT,
EVEN WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE HERE.
SOMEBODY QUITS, RESIGNS, MOVES
ON, WHY NOT FILL THEIR JOB?
WE'RE EITHER SAYING THAT THE
ROLE OF A STATE SENATOR IS
IMPORTANT OR WE'RE NOT.
>> SO ONE HAS TO WONDER WHAT THE
REACTION TO ALL OF THIS MIGHT BE
FROM ERIC HOLDER, PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL,
WHOSE FIRM OR WHOSE GROUP LODGED
THIS CASE AGAINST WISCONSIN AND
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER.
BUT OTHER DEMOCRATS STATESIDE
ARE WEIGHING IN.
>> YEAH.
WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE AT
LEAST IN A STATEMENT SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER JENNIFER
SHILLING SAID IT'S NOT
SURPRISING TO SEE ANOTHER TEMPER
TANTRUM FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERS.
THEY ARE INTIMIDATED BY THE
THOUGHT OF LOSING POWER AND
WOULD RATHER CREATE CHAOS AND
CONFUSION.
DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THE
GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT TO CALL
THESE ELECTIONS BECAUSE EARLIER
SPECIAL ELECTIONS SUGGEST THEY
MIGHT LOSE THEM.
IT IS A LOT OF NATIONAL
ATTENTION NOW BEING FOCUSED,
THOUGH, ON TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICTS.
>> VERY INTERESTING STUFF.
SHAWN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> FOR MORE ON THE SPECIAL
ELECTION COURT RULING, HEAD OVER
TO OUR NEWS PARTNER AT
wiscontext.org.
AND THIS PROGRAM REMINDER.
NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT, SHAWN JOHNSON
AND I WILL CO-MODERATE A
ONE-HOUR BEE HE DEBATE BETWEEN REBECCA
DALLET AND MICHAEL SCRENOCK.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM
THE SPRING ELECTION, THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE IS SOUNDING THE ALARM
OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE MAY
HAVE HAD THEIR VOTER
REGISTRATION IN INACTIVATED BECAUSE
IN EFFORTS TO HAVE CLEAN DATA
WISCONSIN JOINED A MULTISTATE
PROGRAM CALLED THE ELECTRONIC
REGISTRATION INFORMATION CENTER
IN 2016, ERIC, AS IT'S KNOWN,
PURGES VOTERS FROM THE ROLLS FOR
HAVING INCONSISTENT VOTER
REGISTRATION ADDRESSES.
CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE ERIC
SYSTEM IS FLAWED BECAUSE OF
INACCURATE ADDRESS INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY THE STATE DMV AND
THE US POST OFFICE.
MILWAUKEE WAS INFORMED THAT
NEARLY 47,000 RECORDS WERE
FLAGGED FOR THOSE RECORDS IN IN
CONSISTINCONSISTENCIES.
ABOUT 32,000 RECORDS WERE
INACTIVATED.
THAT LEAVES MILWAUKEE WITH THE
LOWEST NUMBER OF REGISTERED
VOTERS IN 50 YEARS.
AND OFFICIALS THERE WORRY ABOUT
DISENFRANCHISING THOUSANDS OF
VOTERS IN THE UPCOMING
ELECTIONS.
MAYOR TOM BARRETT JIENS US JOINS US FROM
MILWAUKEE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OF THE 32,000 RECORDS
DEACTIVATED, DO YOU MEAN HOW
MANY WERE DONE SO IN ERROR?
>> WE DON'T AND THAT'S THE
PROBLEM.
WE DON'T KNOW.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THE STATE
OFFICIALS KNOW.
AND LET ME START THIS OUT BY
SAYING WE ARE NOT CLAIMING
THERE'S SOMETHING KNEE FARE NEFARIOUS
GOING ON HERE.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
ARE NOT TAKING PEOPLE'S NAMES
OFF THE ROLLS IF THEY'RE
ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS PARAMOUNT
HERE.
IF THAT MEANS A FEW EXTRA NAMES
ON THE VOTING ROLLS, THAT
DOESN'T OFFEND ME AS MUCH AS
HAVING SOMEONE WHO IS LEGALLY
ABLE TO VOTE BEING DENIED THE
RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
FOR WHATEVER REASON REGISTER ON
ELECTION DAY.
>> NOW, THE STATE SAYS THAT IF
100 MILWAUKEE VOTERS HAD TO
REREGISTER WITH THEIR SAME
ADDRESSES IN FEBRUARY AS THEY
DID, APRIL'S ELECTION WILL
PROBABLY SEE 200 WHO HAVE TO DO
THAT, BUT THAT EVERY VOTER
DEACTIVATED THE STATE SAYS WILL
BE ON A SUPPLEMENTAL POLL LIST
AND CAN AFFIRM THEIR ADDRESS AND
VOTE.
DOESN'T THAT FIX THE IMMEDIATE
PROBLEM?
>> I THINK IT'S A SHORT-TERM
FIX, BUT WE HAVE TWO VERY
IMPORTANT FALL ELECTIONS AS
WELL.
AND WE HAVE HAD NO ASSURANCES
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
USE THAT SAME SYSTEM IN THE
FALL.
I THINK IT'S MORE CUMBERSOME TO
HAVE TO GO TO A SECOND LIST
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE
FIRST LIST, YOU DON'T KNOW.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME
ADDITIONAL TRAINING OBVIOUSLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLL WORKERS
KNOW IF SOMEONE DOESN'T SHOW UP,
THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
SECOND LIST.
BUT ONCE YOU GET TO THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION, FOR EXAMPLE,
IF YOU'RE USING THAT SYSTEM THEN
DARK AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY
ASSURANCES WE CAN USE THAT
SYSTEM THEN -- THAT CAN RESULT
IN LONGER DELAYS AND SOME PEOPLE
NOT BEING GIVEN THE RIGHT TO
VOTE.
>> HOW DID THESE ERRORS WITH THE
ERIC SYSTEM OCCUR, IN YOUR
UNDERSTANDING?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
STATE RELIED ON A DEPARTMENT OF
MOTOR VEHICLES AND THAT THE
COMPUTERS DIDN'T TALK WELL TO
EACH OTHER.
I HEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE MUCH MORE
ATTUNE TO THIS THAN I I THINK
PROBABLY COULD GIVE YOU THE
NUANCES.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ON YOUR
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE'S
ADDRESS IT SAYS APARTMENT 3, AND
IT DOESN'T SAY APARTMENT 3 WHEN
YOU VOTE AND YOU GET DROPPED
BECAUSE OF THAT.
THAT'S ONE ISSUE.
A SECOND ISSUE MIGHT BE THAT YOU
LIVE IN MADISON OR YOU LIVE IN
BARABOO BUT YOUR CAR IS
REGISTERED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SEPARATE
RESIDENCE THERE.
THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF
SOMEONE WHO'S GETTING BUMPED.
I THINK STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE
THEIR ADDRESS ON THEIR DRIVER'S
LICENSE AS ONE LOCATION IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND THEN A
SECOND LOCATION FOR VOTING, THEY
MAY RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES.
AND OF COURSE WHEN YOU'VE GOT
LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, THEY'RE GOING
TO BE MOVING MUCH MORE OFTEN.
AND IF THEY DON'T COORDINATE
THOSE MOVES, IT'S GOING TO MAKE
IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO
REREGISTER ON ELECTION DAY.
>> AND HERE'S ONE MORE THING THE
STATE TOLD US.
THEY SAID, QUOTE, WE HAVE
LEARNED THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO
FILL OUT A USPS CHANGE OF
ADDRESS FORM DO SO BECAUSE USPS
HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE
DELIVERING MAIL TO THEIR
ADDRESS, NOT BECAUSE THEY MOVED.
BAWFSBECAUSE OF THAT REACTIVATED
VOTERS STATEWIDE.
ONE MORE KIND OF EXPLANATION FOR
HOW SOME OF THESE ERRORS MIGHT
HAVE OCCURRED.
BUT ERIC IS IN PLACE IN 23 OTHER
STATES.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OTHER
STATES HAVING THESE KINDS OF
ISSUES?
>> I THINK IN SOME STATES IT'S
WORKED WELL.
IN SOME STATES THERE HAVE BEEN
ISSUES.
OUR ELECTION DIRECTOR
ESSENTIALLY SAID THAT THIS IS A
SITUATION WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S DONE RIGHT BEFORE
WE GO LIVE WITH IT, THAT THERE'S
NO RUSH TO GO LIVE WITH IT UNTIL
IT'S DONE RIGHT.
AND, AGAIN, IT GETS BACK TO THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING
DISENFRANCHISED BECAUSE OF
INACCURATE DATA SUPPLIED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
INACCURATE DATA SUPPLIED BY THE
US POST OFFICE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
VOTE.
>> YOU'VE WRITTEN TO THE
GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS MATTER.
WHAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSE?
>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.
WE SENT OUT THE LETTER EARLIER
THIS WEEK.
IT'S A PROBLEM.
I WANT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS SHOULD
BE A POLITICAL BATTLE BECAUSE
IT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO
VOTE.
EVERYONE WHO AGREE TO VOTE IF
SOMEONE IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE,
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE.
I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE IT IT
MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO
VOTE, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS
A SITUATION WHERE WE SHOULD BE
MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE
FOR ANYBODY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT
FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS THE CORRECT
INFORMATION BUT THE STATE MIGHT
HAVE THE WRONG INFORMATION.
>> WHAT DOES THIS DO, IN YOUR
MIND, TO VOTER CONFIDENCE?
>> WELL, I THINK ANYTIME YOU GO
TO THE POLLS AND YOU'RE STANDING
THERE AND YOU SHOW THEM YOUR
PHOTO I.D. AND THEY SAY, WELL,
YOU'RE NOT ON THE LIST, YOU'RE
TAKEN ABACK.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I'M ON THE LIST.
AND THEN TO BE TOLD THAT YOU'RE
NOT I THINK OBVIOUSLY HAS AN
IMPACT ON YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE
SYSTEM WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HAPPENS.
AGAIN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, FOR
THE APRIL ELECTION, IF YOU KNOW
ENOUGH TO GO TO THE SECOND LIST,
YOU MIGHT BE ON THE SECOND LIST.
THAT ASSUMES TWO THINGS.
THAT ASSUMES EITHER, ONE, THE
POLL WORKER KNOWS TO GO TO THAT
SECOND LIST AND WE'RE GOING TO
TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT.
OR THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A
SECOND LIST THAT YOU SHOULD BE
CHECKING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MAYOR TOM BARRETT, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR SPENDING THE TIME TO
TALK WITH US ABOUT THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
BOTH HOUSES OF THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK VOTED TO
CLOSE WISCONSIN'S JUVENILE
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN IRMA.
THE $80 MILLION PLAN WILL CLOSE
LINCOLN HILLS AND COPPER LAKE BY
2021 AND REPLACE THEM WITH
SMALLER, REGIONAL FACILITIES.
THE MEASURE NOW GOES TO THE
GOVERNOR.
BOTH HOUSES PASSED A $100
MILLION SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN AND A
$100 PER CHILD TAX CREDIT AND A
SCALED-BACK SALES TAX HOLIDAY.
A SEPARATE BILL THAT STRENGTHENS
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR LONG GUNS
SUCH AS RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS WAS
PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, BUT THE
SENATE LEADER SAYS IT IS
UNLIKELY TO MOVE FORWARD IN HIS
CHAMBER.
>> THE LEGISLATURE VOTED TO VOAS
DOWN THECLOSE DOWN THE JUVENILE
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THE SAME
WEEK THE STATE AGREED TO PAY
NEARLY $19 MILLION TO A FORMER
INMATE THERE, DESCRIBED AS THE
LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS SETTLEMENT
IN WISCONSIN.
19-YEAR-OLD SYDNI BRIGGS WILL
USE THE MONEY FOR HER LIFELONG
CARE AFTER SUFFERING SEVERE
BRAIN DAMAGE WHILE SHE HANGED
HERSELF AT COPPER LAKE SCHOOL
FOR GIRLS IN 2015.
SHE HAD BEEN AT THE YOUTH PRISON
AFTER STEALING FROM A LIQUOR
STORE, BUT FOUND HERSELF
DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS AND HOMESICK
AND BEGAN SELF-HARM, WHICH
CULMINATED IN TRYING TO KILL
HERSELF.
BUT PRISON STAFF DID NOT RESPOND
TO THE EMERGENCY CALL LIGHT SHE
TURNED ON.
ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT AGAINST
THE STATE, STAFF FAILED TO CHECK
ON BRIGGS EVERY 15 MINUTES AS
REQUIRED AND IGNORED HER CALL
LIGHT FOR 24 MINUTES.
HER ATTORNEY, ERIC HAAG, JOINS
US TONIGHT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> DOES SYDNI UNDERSTAND AT THIS
POINT THAT THIS SETTLEMENT WILL
ALLOW HER THIS KIND OF BEST CARE
THAT MONEY CAN BUY AS YOU'VE
DESCRIBED IT FOR THE REST OF HER
LIFE?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, SYDNI DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE HER BRAIN
INJURY IS SUCH THAT SHE'S NOT
EVEN AWARE THAT THIS CASE
EXISTS.
SHE DOESN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT
HAPPENED AT COPPER LAKE SCHOOL
FOR GIRLS.
SHE'S UNAWARE -- I'VE MET HER
TEN TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE
YEARS, AND EACH TIME I HAVE TO
REINTRODUCE MYSELF AND SHE
DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONCEPT OF WHAT
THIS MONEY WILL DO OR WHAT IT'S
FOR OR WHAT IT'S FROM.
>> I HAVE READ THAT WHEN ASKED
ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE THERE, SHE
SAYS SIMPLY IT WAS BAD.
>> I WAS THERE WHEN SHE SAID
THAT.
AT OTHER TIMES I'VE ASKED SYDNI
DO YOU REMEMBER BEING AT COPPER
LAKE AND SHE SAYS NO.
SHE MAY SAY THAT AT ONE POINT,
BUT A MINUTE LATER SHE MAY SAY
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> WHEN YOU TOOK THIS CASE AND
STARTED DIGGING INTO IT, HOW
OUTRAGED WERE YOU ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED TO HER?
>> WELL, WHEN I TOOK THIS CASE,
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING
TO FIND OR WHAT I WAS GETTING
INTO.
I KNEW THAT I HAD READ THE EARLY
ARTICLES ON THE CHAOS AT LINCOLN
HILLS AND COPPER LAKE.
I KNEW THAT THERE WAS A MOM
SITTING IN FRONT OF ME WHO TOLD
ME HER DAUGHTER WAS IN A COMA
AFTER HAVING TRIED TO HANG
HERSELF AT COPPER LAKE.
AND THAT'S ALL I KNEW.
AS I DUG INTO IT AND STARTED
FINDING EVIDENCE THAT WAS
SUPPORTIVE OF OUR CASE,
OBVIOUSLY IT BECAME OUTRAGEOUS
EVENTUALLY.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE
PRISON STAFF IGNORED HER CALL
FOR HELP WHEN SHE TURNED ON HER
CALL LIGHT?
>> SURE.
I HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CAMERAS.
I HAD ACTUALLY REQUESTED THOSE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
DECEMBER OF 2015, SHORTLY AFTER
I TOOK THE CASE ON.
I FIRST GOT THOSE MORE THAN A
YEAR LATER, AFTER I STARTED
LITIGATION.
AND YOU CAN SEE SYDNI'S CALL
LIGHT, HER CALL LIGHT COME ON
CLEARLY, AND THEN YOU SIMPLY
WATCH THE VIDEO AND SEE WHEN
THEY RESPOND.
ANOTHER CAMERA SHOWS STAFF IN
THEIR WHAT THEY CALL THE
DAYROOM, SORT OF AN OPEN AREA
WHERE KIDS CAN KIND OF HANG OUT.
THEY HAVE SOME TREADMILLS AND
TABLES.
YOU CAN SEE MULTIPLE STAFF
MEMBERS IN THERE SITTING AROUND
TALKING, SITTING ON TABLES,
DRINKING SODA, DRINKING WATER
AND NOT REACTING FOR NEARLY 24
MINUTES WHILE THAT CALL LIGHT IS
ON DOWN THE HALL.
>> WHY DID THEY SAY THEY DIDN'T
RESPOND TO IT IN
>> WELL, THEY SAID THAT THEY
DIDN'T KNOW THE CALL LIGHT WAS
ON.
THAT BECAME AN INCREDIBLE STORY,
BECAUSE -- FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE, I TOURED THE FACILITY AND I
TOOK A VIDEOGRAPHER WITH ME.
THE CALL LIGHT WAS CLEARLY
VISIBLE.
THEY COULD SEE IT FROM MULTIPLE
LOCATIONS.
AND THERE'S AN INDICATOR LIGHT
IN THE STAFF BOOTH, WHICH IS
RIGHT WHERE THE STAFF MEMBERS
WERE, THAT COMES ON WHEN ONE OF
THE KIDS TURNS ON THEIR CALL
LIGHT.
SO THAT INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD
HAVE BEEN FIVE FEET AWAY FROM
STAFF MEMBERS.
>> SO IF THIS COULD BE CALLED
INDIFFERENCE OR WORSE, WAS THAT
KIND OF THING ENDEMIC AT THAT
PRISON, DID YOU FIND?
>> WELL, BECAUSE MY
INVESTIGATION WAS LIMITED TO
SYDNI'S CASE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
KNOW IF I CAN GO AS FAR AS TO
SAY IT WAS ENDEMIC AT THE
PRISON.
CERTAINLY THE DISCOVERY I DID,
THE DEPOSITIONS I TOOK, THE
DOCUMENTS I LOOKED AT LED ME TO
BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A KNOWN
PROBLEM.
AND, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DID WHAT'S CALLED A
PREAUDIT IN JULY OF 2015, SO
ABOUT FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THIS
HAPPENED.
THE AUDITORS FOUND DURING THAT
VISIT THAT CALL LIGHTS WERE ON
AND WERE NOT BEING RESPONDED TO
BY STAFF.
SO THE INSTITUTION HAD BEEN
WARNED ABOUT THIS FOUR MONTHS
EARLIER, AND THE UNIT MANAGER
HAD PROMISED THE FEDERAL AUDITOR
THAT THEY WOULD RETRAIN STAFF
AND THAT THE POLICY WAS TO
RESPOND TO THE CALL LIGHTS
IMMEDIATELY.
>> SINCE THAT TIME, SINCE THAT
PROMISE MADE ABOUT THAT
RETRAINING, HAS SOME OF THIS
BEEN FIXED?
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
IT CERTAINLY HADN'T BY NOVEMBER.
AND IN FACT I ASKED FOR ANY
RECORDS TO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT
THE RETRAINING HAD OCCURRED AND
THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT ANY
RETRAINING HAD ACTUALLY OCCURRED
AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING
THE RETRAINING WERE UNABLE TO
REMEMBER ANY SPECIFIC, FORMAL
RETRAINING THAT WAS DONE.
THE BEST THAT THEY COULD COME UP
WITH WAS THAT THEY HAD AT LEAST
TALKED TO STAFF WITHIN THE UNITS
TO REMIND THEM OF THE OBLIGATION
TO RESPOND TO CALL LIGHTS.
>> MEANTIME, THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS VOTED TO SHUT
DOWN THOSE TWO FACILITIES FOR
BOYS AND GIRLS UP THERE.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S OVERDUE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD STEP.
I THINK IT'S OVERDUE.
YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO
TRAVEL TOO FAR TO VISIT THE
YOUTH.
THEY'RE LONELY.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING VISITS FROM
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
IT WAS CHRONICALLY UNDERSTAFFED,
CHRONICALLY SUFFERING FROM AN
INABILITY TO ATTRACT STAFF.
THE MORE MODERN MODEL OF MORE
COMMUNITY-BASED, LOCAL
FACILITIES IS CERTAINLY -- SEEMS
TO BE THE WAY TO GO.
I'M NOT GOING TO CLAIM THAT I'M
AN EXPERT IN RUNNING JUVENILE
CORRECTIONS.
I'M AN EXPERT IN THIS CASE.
BUT I SAW ENOUGH IN THIS CASE TO
KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME
PROBLEMS.
AND THEY GO BEYOND JUST THE
LOCATION.
THERE ARE POLICIES HERE THAT
CLEARLY NO ONE HAD EVER READ,
THAT WERE INCAPABLE OF BEING
CARRIED OUT.
THERE WERE PROCEDURES THAT JUST
WERE SIMPLY OBSOLETE OR DIDN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE.
AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO NL BELIEVE
THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE PLAYING
ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM OF
SUICIDE AND SELF-HARM HERE OR
THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
WOULDN'T HAVE EXISTED.
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UPDATED.
>> AND SO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH,
AGAIN, JUST MOVING THESE
FACILITIES INTO SPECIFIC REGIONS
ACROSS THE STATE IS A GOOD FIRST
STEP, BUT NOT THE FINAL STEP.
>> EXACTLY.
I COMMEND THE DECISION TO DO
THAT.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
BUT IT ISN'T GOING TO FIX THE
PROBLEMS IF WE DON'T START
HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, WE
DON'T HAVE COMPETENT PEOPLE IN
PLACE, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE
RIGHT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN
PLACE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ERIC HAAG, ATTORNEY, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN THE
TWITTERSPHERE BEFORE AND AFTER
THE TWOIKS 2016 ELECTION GETS A CLOSE
LOOK." THE TWITTER EXPLOIT:
HOW RUSSIANS PROPAGANDA
INFILTRATED SOWVMENT NEWS "LOOKS
AT THAT.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
JOURNALISM CHRIS WELLS IS HERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS.
>> YOU DESCRIBE HOW USH RUSSIA'S
INTERNET RESEARCH AGENCY TOOK TO
TWITTER RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF IMPRESSIONS ON THE
PART OF AMERICANS, MOST OF IT
YOU SAY TO SOW SOCIAL DIVISION
AND DISCORD, BUT ALSO WITH A
SPECIFIC EYE TOWARD HARMING
HILLARY CLINTON.
SO I GUESS WE WEREN'T KIND OF
IMAGINING IT WHEN WE SAW NEW
HEIGHTS OF ANGER AND
DIVISIVENESS AND POLARIZATION.
>> EL WITH, I DON'T KNOW WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I'D SAY
THAT.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE RUSSIAN
CAMPAIGN IS AN AMPLIFICATION OF
PROCESSES ALREADY GOING ON IN
U.S. POLITICS.
THAT'S WHY THEY WEREN'T
IDENTIFIED FOR SO LONG.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE KIND OF
POLARIZED DISCOURSE WE'RE
ALREADY SEEING.
>> WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE
RUSSIANS DID THIS, AMPLIFIED
THIS?
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF
PARTICULAR ACCOUNT, WHICH IS
KNOWN AS TEN GOP, PRETENDING TO
BE A PARTY ACCOUNT FROM
TENNESSEE.
THEY WOULD POST REAL NEWS
STORIES AND REPOST THINGS FROM
OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE CHRIS
SIZING DEMOCRATS ORCRITICIZING DEMOCRATS.
AFTER THE CAMPAIGN JOHNNY DEPP,
THE ACTOR, SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
THE PRESIDENT THAT WASN'T VERY
NICE AND TEN GOP JUMPED RIGHT ON
IT AND SAID LUKE LOOK AT THIS
HOLLYWOOD ACTOR, HE'S SUCH A
JERK TO BE CRITICIZING THE
PRESIDENT.
>> YOU FOUND FURTHER THAT SOME
OF THESE KIND OF TWEETS FROM
THAT KIND OF HANDLE MADE THEIR
WAY INTO MAINSTREAM REPORTING
INTO OUTLETS LIKE THE WASHINGTON
POST OR U. U.S. NEWS TODAY OR
EVEN NPR.
>> THAT WAS OUR CONTRIBUTION.
WE ALREADY KNEW FROM SPECIAL
COUNSEL'S INDICTMENT ABOUT THE
SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY.
WE FOUND THEY APPEARED IN
AMERICAN NEWS MEDIA A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF TIMES.
IT WASN'T A HUGE NUMBER OF
TIMES.
A LOT OF THESE OUTLETS ARE
PRODUCING THOUSANDS OF STORIES A
MONTH.
WE FOUND A HUNDRED SOME
INSTANCES.
BUT IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN WHEN THE
OUTLETS WERE TRYING TO REPORT ON
WHAT WAS GOING ON ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
SO IT WOULD OFTEN EXPLICITLY SAY
HERE'S WHAT TWITTER THINKS ABOUT
THIS ISSUE.
SOMETIMES THOSE TWEETS WOULDN'T
BE AMERICANS AT ALL BY IRA
ACCOUNTS FROM RUSSIA.
>> HOW SLIPPERY A SLOPE IS
EMBEDDING TWEETS IN REPORTING OR
USING THEM AS SOURCES OF
INFORMATION?
>> I THINK FROM THIS STUDY WE
SEE IT'S PRETTY SLIPPERY.
JOURNALISM FOR A LONG TIME HAS
USED MAN ON THE STREET
PERSPECTIVES.
THEY ASK PEOPLE WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT'S SORT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF THE PRESS,
TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING.
SO IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT ALSO
TO LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE.
WE'RE FINDING THAT A HIGHER
LEVEL OF VERIFICATION OF WHAT'S
BEING SAID IS PROBABLY
NECESSARY.
>> DO THE RUSSIANS PERSIST IN
THIS EVEN AFTER BEING OUTED IN
THESE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS?
>> YEAH.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE BEST
RESEARCH IS THAT THE RUSSIAN
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS CONTINUE
ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER
PLACES.
SO THIS ISN'T GOING AWAY.
>> SO ARE THERE THESE IRA TWEET
TWEETERS OUT THERE THAT WE KNOW
OF THAT PEOPLE HAVE SPECIFIED
THEIR HANDLES?
>> YEAH.
THERE IT GETS MORE TRICKY.
THE ACCOUNTS WE USED WERE
FORMALLY IDENTIFIED BY TWITTER
AS COMING FROM RUSSIA.
TWITTER HASN'T RELEASED OTHER
NAMES OF ACCOUNTS THEY BELIEVE
ARE STILL OPERATING.
TWITTER STOPS THEM ONCE THEY
IDENTIFY THEM.
OTHER RESEARCH OUTLETS ARE
SUGGESTING THEY'RE CONTINUING TO
OPERATE.
>> SO THE CHALLENGE TO
JOURNALISTS IS CLEAR.
BUT WHAT ABOUT FOR CONSUMERS OF
NEWS?
SHOULD THEY TRUST KIND OF
ANYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE?
>> WELL, OF COURSE NO.
I THINK THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO
BE SORT OF CRITICAL ABOUT WHAT
THEY TRUST.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT MOST OF WHAT THE RUSSIANS
POSTED WAS NOT FAKE NEWS.
YOU WEREN'T GOING TO LEARN
SOMETHING THAT WAS FALSE FROM
READING THESE TWEETS.
RATHER, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE,
THEY WERE MOSTLY AMPLIFICATIONS
OF REALLY POLARIZED DISCUSSION
THAT'S ALREADY GOING ON IN OUR
COUNTRY.
THE BIGGER STORY MIGHT BE BE
CAUTIOUS WHEN YOU'RE ABSORBING
THIS PARTISAN CONTENT THAT IS
CRITICAL OF THE OTHER SIDE
BECAUSE THEY MAY BE CRITICAL OF
SOMETHING THAT IS BLOWN OUT OF
PROPORTION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHRIS WELLS, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, A
REMINDER THAT NEXT FRIDAY WE
WILL HAVE A ONE-HOUR DEBATE
BETWEEN STATE SUPREME COURT
CANDIDATES REBECCA DALLET AND
MICHAEL SCRENOCK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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