Newly released documents in a secret John Doe investigation revealed that prosecutors allege Gov. Scott Walker and his staff illegally coordinated with conservative groups during his 2011 recall election as well as those of several Republican senators.
Federal Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook, currently reviewing a lawsuit to end the John Doe investigation permanently, ordered the documents to be released Thursday.
The Wisconsin Club for Growth originally brought the lawsuit, arguing the investigation was politically motivated. The Club is one of the organizations prosecutors allege coordinated with Walker’s campaign.
The documents released Thursday include an excerpt of an email Walker sent to former advisor to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove, in which he explained that R.J. Johnson, Walker’s advisor and administrator of the Club for Growth, “coordinated spending through 12 different groups."
The prosecutors said in the documents they have affidavits confirming that Johnson and others participated in “open and express discussions” of coordination among CFG, the Republican Party of Wisconsin, the Republican State Leadership Committee, the Republican Governors Association, Americans for Prosperity and others.
Francis Schmitz, special prosecutor in the case, adds that conference calls were held to coordinate the efforts of several of these organizations.
Schmitz concluded from these and other alleged instances of coordination that enough evidence exists to allow the John Doe investigation to continue.
Walker told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Thursday he is not concerned about the investigation.
“When you look at [judges who have ruled on the case], they have made it pretty clear that they don’t believe there’s a case there,” Walker said in the interview. “The judiciary at both the state and federal levels made it clear that there wasn’t a case here.”
Walker also said he had not seen the documents but added he “cannot imagine” sending any email suggesting illegal coordination.
Johnson will continue to work on Walker’s staff, the governor said in the interview.
