Georgia Thompson's exoneration doesn't answer every question about political influence in state decision making. Federal appeals court Judge Diane Wood made it clear earlier this week that she thought prosecutors had nothing on Thompson, calling evidence presented at her trial "beyond thin."
The three judge appeals panel this week reversed the conviction of the former state employee, and ordered her immediate release from prison. Jay Heck with Common Cause in Wisconsin said that's great for Thompson, however, he says this doesn't end questions about whether "undue political influence" is playing a corrupting role in Wisconsin. Heck said prosecutors alleged that Thompson influenced the decision, when a state travel contract was awarded to a firm that had contributed to Governor Jim Doyle's campaign. Heck said the judges appeared to have found that assertion "not credible."