Posted on 11/16/2013 11:23:20 AM PST by Jean S
Subpoenas hit allies of Scott Walker as his re-election campaign looms.
Americans learned in the IRS political targeting scandal that government enforcement power can be used to stifle political speech. Something similar may be unfolding in Wisconsin, where a special prosecutor is targeting conservative groups that participated in the battle over Governor Scott Walker's union reforms.
In recent weeks, special prosecutor Francis Schmitz has hit dozens of conservative groups with subpoenas demanding documents related to the 2011 and 2012 campaigns to recall Governor Walker and state legislative leaders.
Copies of two subpoenas we've seen demand "all memoranda, email . . . correspondence, and communications" both internally and between the subpoena target and some 29 conservative groups, including Wisconsin and national nonprofits, political vendors and party committees. The groups include the League of American Voters, Wisconsin Family Action, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Americans for Prosperity—Wisconsin, American Crossroads, the Republican Governors Association, Friends of Scott Walker and the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
One subpoena also demands "all records of income received, including fundraising information and the identity of persons contributing to the corporation." In other words, tell us who your donors are.
The probe began in the office of Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf, though no one will publicly claim credit for appointing Mr. Schmitz, the special prosecutor. The investigation is taking place under Wisconsin's John Doe law, which bars a subpoena's targets from disclosing its contents to anyone but his attorneys. John Doe probes work much like a grand jury, allowing prosecutors to issue subpoenas and conduct searches, while the gag orders leave the targets facing the resources of the state with no way to publicly defend themselves.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Ping.
They just can’t admit DEFEAT, can they? Such a waste of money!
Wow, just wow. I knew that the Slave Party had balls, but it is their ubiquity in the bureaucracy that is truly intimidating. These databases they are building are truly a serious threat to the nation.
thats a law straight from behind the iron curtain.
It’s way past time to get rid of sovereign immunity or at the very least severely limit it.
Keep in mind that sovereign immunity is judge-made law. No legislature and no citizens group lobbied for this much abused protection.
What the WI legislature should do is end or limit sovereign immunity. That might slow down some of this garbage or at least alter plans. We can’t ever stop fighting. They don’t.
The military is used to deal with enemies foreign.
The standing army of collectivist bureaucrats is used to deal with enemies domestic.
The real issue here is Walker would be a far more formidable opponent in 2016 than Christie. The prod for this could come from outside of Wisconsin.
These gag laws violate the First Amendment. WI has a lot of bad laws on the books that violate the Constitution. The state to the south of you is worse in many ways.
Hmmmm.
We have political oppression now
Anything missing from this being a third world banana republic?
The White House coordinated the union jihad against Governor Walker in 2011. Obama's thugs lost. Gruppenfuhrer Valerie Jarrett promised there would be hell to pay.
Isn’t Walker pro-amnesty?
Because that is a deal killer.
Fight fire with fire. Another DA or the state attorney general should appoint someone to investigate these rogue prosecutors.
That's the goal here, but sunshine might undo a lot of this. The legislature and the governor can work together to curb this and asap. Get rid of sovereign immunity and these rats cannot hide. Eliminate the gag rules and you can fight back. Shame them to death with sunshine.
Rooster Cogburn: You can't serve papers on a rat, baby sister. You gotta kill him or let him be.
I talked to an ADA from an adjoining county a couple of weeks ago. He was clueless. We really need to club these people with a wake up club.
Good thought. It does have the look and feel of a White Hut political "black-operation."
As a presidential candidate, IMO Walker would be much more likely to carry Wisconsin than Christie would New Jersey. Both are bad news for Democrats though from an electoral college perspective.
They can demand all they want.
Refuse to comply.
Or a simple envelope with “GFY” on a plain sheet of paper inside.
The problem is that should Scott Walker run for President, the Dems WILL attempt to recall him again.
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