A former top-level assistant U.S. attorney has been appointed a special prosecutor in a burgeoning, secret investigation into a wide variety of state issues, including possible campaign violations during the recent recall elections, multiple sources said.
Francis Schmitz — who spent nearly 30 years as a federal prosecutor and was once a finalist for U.S. attorney in Milwaukee — is leading the widespread John Doe probe, according to sources.
Overseeing the case is Kenosha County Circuit Judge Barbara A. Kluka, who has been used by Milwaukee County judicial officials in past John Doe cases.
Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf, whose office initiated the probe, declined to answer questions about the John Doe on Friday. Insiders said the investigation covers several jurisdictions, including Dane County. Police and prosecutors in these other counties have been lending a helping hand.
“It’s now spread to at least five counties,” said a source familiar with the probe, adding that Landgraf has been investigating “all over the place.”
According to Bice’s report, this most recent John Doe investigation is looking at a current legislative leader and the governor’s contest.
Anyone wanna make some guesses on which five counties and which “current legislative leader” might be involved in this latest John Doe investigation?
My fear is that there is a Democratic name wrapped up in this too. Clearly Scott Fitzgerald and Walker are a pert of this probe. But I will not be surprised if the senate minority leader might also be a part of this awful mess. That his one stemmed from the time of the first probe gives me reason to think the murk runs quite deep. But the intense volume of money and the fact the recalls are part of the probe–as far as we can know–makes me fear that one of our own is also in the line of questioning.
Yeah, my money is on Scott Fitzgerald being a target of this one.
I hope I am wrong, but am just speaking from my gut on this one.
Time to lock up the criminal democrats. Holding this state hostage for years while they held their temper tantrum is finally going to land them in jail.
Which Democrats are criminals and how? Explain.
Let’s just hope Burke doesn’t follow Barrett down the John Doe rabbit hole and base her whole campaign on this rather than on issues and policies. If charges are issued, that is obviously a different matter, but for now I hope she gets focused on where she would take the state.
Gov. Scott Walker rebuffs questions on John Doe probe – JSOnline http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/228753651.html …
is a good sign.
Gregory,
I didn’t read anything in Bice’s piece to suggest that Dems are being investigated. Here’s the relevant portion:
” Sources said the investigation is following up on a number of leads turned up by an earlier John Doe probe, which was led by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm into the former and current aides of Gov. Scott Walker during his time as Milwaukee County executive.”
I confess I have some of Gregory’s fears on this. It’s just so vague.
On the other hand, because it is so vague, I am really tempted to make up a set of bingo cards, full of counties, pols, underlings singing like canaries…
I hope there ARE dems tied up in the criminality — having a D after your name DOES NOT mean they support some economic justice.
If there are some folks on BOTH sides, then perhaps the media will actually tell the truth — bice is NOT — he proclaimed the probe “dead as a doornail” last November and needs to get in front of this.
The probe IS NOT NEW and it IS NOT JOHN DOE II — folks forget (with the help of a compliant propaganda machine that blankets Wisconsin) that it was the FBI that broke down a door and seized computer records.
Most likely, this investigation is not only CONCURRENT with the Milwaukee County one, but that it entirely encompasses it.