Gov. Scott Walker said Friday he plans to meet with the prosecutor investigating illegal activities at his former Milwaukee County Executive office that have led to charges against five of his former aides and associates.
While some groups take the announcement to mean Walker was aware of or involved in the illegal activities, the governor said he is not the target of the John Doe investigations.
“My cooperation in this matter extends beyond a willingness to supply any and all requested documents,” Walker said in a statement Friday. “I have already said that I would be happy to sit down with the people looking into these issues and answer any additional questions they may have.”
United Wisconsin, the group responsible for collecting the signatures needed to spark a recall election against the governor, said Walker can’t “avoid the dark clouds” of the ongoing investigation.
“Scott Walker’s hiring of a high-powered legal defense team casts further doubt on his claims that he is not the target of this investigation,” United Wisconsin said in a press release. “This move clearly shows that the Governor is on the defensive.”
The ongoing investigation began 20 months ago. The defendants have been charged with campaigning and raising money for Walker while on the state’s dime.
