Posted on 11/18/2013 12:02:31 PM PST by Jean S
Gov. Scott Walker won't say whether he, his attorneys or any staff members have been contacted in a growing, secret criminal investigation into a variety of state issues.
Pressed three times on the matter, Walker said Monday that he wouldn't be distracted by questions on the John Doe investigation, which he called a "sidebar issue."
"In terms of a lot of the questions regarding that issue, I really don't have a lot to say," Walker said during a visit to Beechwood Sales and Service in New Berlin. "I'm going to stay focused, as I am today, on helping the people of this state create more jobs, create more opportunity and balance the budget, as we have."
Walker added that he didn't want to get "pulled into" a discussion of the John Doe because of its dicey secrecy rules. A John Doe probe allows prosecutors to gather evidence and compel testimony in secret.
"It doesn't make sense to be involved with that," he said.
But Walker didn't hesitate to suggest that the timing about this week's news on the secret investigation, which opened in February 2012, might have been driven by politics.
The Journal Sentinel reported Monday that officials have named a special prosecutor, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Schmitz, in the case, which has now spread to five counties. The investigation is looking into, among other things, a legislative leader and the governor's 2012 recall race.
"From our standpoint, we assume with there now officially being a candidate for governor on the Democrat side, there are going to be stories like this coming out -- in some ways, I think, distracting from our good work on improving the economy and providing $100 million worth of tax relief," the first-term GOP governor said.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Wall Street Journal: Wisconsin Political Speech Raid
Brettbart: Wisconsin Special Prosecutor Targets Supporters of Scott Walker
Ping.
Walker refuses to embroil himself in John Doe probe discussion
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Did any of those stories mention what possible crimes were being investigated, or whether there was any initial evidence provided to support an ongoing investigation? Or at whose behest the investigation was undertaken?
It sounds like the Dems are trying to trap Walker into commenting on an investigation that the law prohibits him from commenting on, and are using his compliance with the law to suggest that he is hiding some sort of crime.
No and no. Per the Wall Street Journal article, no one will even say who appointed the special prosecutor.
so they can go on any fishing expedition they want and call is a “john doe” investigation?
cool...
If I was targeted, I would immediately go to the press castigating the Dem’s use of secret trials and secret investigations and then go to the federal courts to have these ‘secrecy laws” thrown out.
You know, there is plenty of evidence that the Dems did the same thing in their fight for the recall. Friendly republican county AG’s can start their own “John Doe investigations with secret testimonies...ect. Turn the worm!
Reminds me of the Valerie Plame supposed “outing” scandal....one created to discredit, impugn, marginalize, tear down and try to destroy another with whom there is great disagreement...like the Dems/the left tried to do to Bush/Cheney, et al.
“So they can sully the name of any targeted politician by dragging on the investigation, creating a sense of criminal activity, even if there was no criminal activity, and not allow the subject of the investigation to make any kind of public rebuttal. Sounds like a VERY bad idea, and a very dangerous political tool. And that is what it is - a political tool.”.........
I truely hope with my heart that this backfires on the demodummies who are wasting such huge amounts of gubmint funds. They, themselves need to be investigated.
“So they can sully the name of any targeted politician by dragging on the investigation, creating a sense of criminal activity, even if there was no criminal activity, and not allow the subject of the investigation to make any kind of public rebuttal. Sounds like a VERY bad idea, and a very dangerous political tool. And that is what it is - a political tool.”.........
I truely hope with my heart that this backfires on the demodummies who are wasting such huge amounts of gubmint funds. They, themselves need to be investigated.
A real life Star Chamber(tm).
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