Peterson replaces retired Kenosha County Circuit Judge Barbara Kluka, who recused herself from overseeing the John Doe probe last month. She has not explained why she exited the case....."
- Oct 30, 2013 - KENOSHA, Wis. — A hearing this week that might have kicked off a new phase in a super-secret political investigation led by Democrats targeting conservatives was postponed indefinitely after the presiding judge recused herself from the case, Wisconsin Reporter has learned.
A source close to the investigation tells Wisconsin Reporter that retired Kenosha County Circuit Judge Barbara A. Kluka has stepped aside, throwing off the proceedings, scheduled for Tuesday.
“There was no hearing because there’s no judge,” said the source, who spoke in return for a guarantee of anonymity.
The insider said attorneys in the case learned “over the past few days” the Tuesday deadline for appearing before the judge had been postponed.
One source said subpoenas issued in the case required responses “in person or in writing” from “about 100 people.”
Wisconsin Reporter contacted Kluka at her Kenosha home Wednesday. She said she could not comment.
“I cannot tell you anything. There is a secrecy order and I will abide by it.”.....
Oct 30, 2013:EXCLUSIVE: Judge in Democrat-led John Doe probe recuses herself...Like a grand jury, John Doe investigations give prosecutors subpoena and search powers, as well as the ability to call oath-bound witnesses to testify. And it’s all conducted in secret. The investigation draws its name from the unnamed people involved, and is intended to be an independent, investigative tool to determine whether a crime has been committed — and if so, by whom.
John Does come with strict penalties for those who violate the terms of the secret proceedings.
As revealed by Wisconsin Reporter Monday, the secret investigation launched by the Democrat-led Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office in early 2012 is trained on national conservative organizations, including Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth and the Republican Governors Association. Multiple sources, who asked to remain anonymous due to their proximity to the probe or the people in it, corroborated that story.
One source with knowledge of the investigation said the groups have received — or have been told they’ll receive — subpoenas issued under the state’s so-called John Doe law.
Though gagged by provisions of subpoenas issued by Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf and others, multiple sources told Wisconsin Reporter the manifold legal attack on nonprofit political organizations has included after-hours visits to homes and offices; confiscated equipment and files; and demands for phone, email and other records.
“This is a taxpayer-funded, opposition-research campaign,” one source said. “This is not a question of what conservatives did wrong. It’s a question of one party in this state using prosecutorial powers to conduct a one-sided investigation into conservatives.”...
April 20, 2015 - David French, NRO: Wisconsin's Shame 'I thought it was a home invasion "................As I finished an interview with one victim still living in fear, still shattered by the experience of nearly losing everything simply because she supported the wrong candidate at the wrong time, I asked whether she had any final thoughts. “Just one,” she replied. “I’m hoping for accountability, that someone will be held responsible so that they’ll never do this again.” She paused for a moment and then, with voice trembling, said: “No one should ever endure what my family endured.”