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Scott Walker, eyeing 2016, faces fallout from probes as ex-aide’s e-mails are released Scott Walker, eyeing 2016, faces fallout from probes as ex-aide’s e-mails are released
(about 4 hours later)
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has been eyeing a 2016 presidential run since his battles with labor unions made him a Republican star, is in the midst of dealing with the fallout of two criminal investigations at home that could complicate his move to the national stage. MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has had his eye on a 2016 presidential run since his battles with labor unions made him a Republican star, is dealing with the fallout of two criminal investigations at home that could complicate his move to the national stage.
One is ongoing, and while the other is now closed with no allegations of wrongdoing by Walker, it has the lingering potential to embarrass him. One is ongoing, and although the other is closed and found no wrongdoing by Walker, it has the potential to embarrass him.
That could begin as early as Wednesday with the release of more than 25,000 pages of e-mails from an ex-staffer that were gathered as part of the now-concluded investigation. That was evident Wednesday with the release of more than 25,000 pages of e-mails from a former staff member that were gathered as part of the concluded inquiry.
The e-mails and other previously sealed court documents showed that there was nearly daily coordination between Walker, public employees in Walker’s county executive’s office and his campaign team in the run-up to his 2010 election as governor. The probe focused on Walker’s time as Milwaukee County executive before his 2010 election as governor and led to convictions of six former aides and allies. The investigation focused on Walker’s time as Milwaukee county executive in the run-up to his 2010 election as governor and led to the convictions of six former aides and allies, including criminal convictions of two aides for performing political business on county time.
Two of Walker’s aides from that time were convicted of criminal offenses for co-mingling county and political business and Walker’s level of knowledge of those activities has long been a question. Prosecutors have said Walker was never a target, and he was not charged. Walker said Wednesday that the new disclosures revealed nothing beyond what authorities already had reviewed, and he predicted that Democrats would exaggerate their importance.
The new documents show that it was Walker himself who directed that his county staff and campaign aides hold a daily conference call to coordinate strategy. Walker also routinely used a campaign email account to email county staffers also using private email addresses, a strategy prosecutors have said was used to shield political business from public release. The e-mails and other previously sealed court documents released Wednesday showed nearly daily coordination between Walker, his gubernatorial campaign and public employees in his county office.
Walker faces an additional inquiry from state prosecutors, who are believed to be looking into whether his successful 2012 recall campaign illegally coordinated with independent conservative groups. Walker has characterized the activities as wayward behavior of low-level aides. But the e-mails show that he knew county officials were working closely with campaign officials.
That investigation could prove damaging if it hobbles key Walker campaign aides as he gears up for an expected vigorous reelection challenge in November. Combined with the possibility of additional future disclosures from the first investigation, the new probe threatens to hurt the governor as he attempts to gain momentum as a White House contender amid the scandal that has dimmed the 2016 prospects of a fellow star GOP governor, New Jersey’s Chris Christie. Walker, for instance, directed his county staff members and campaign aides to hold a daily conference call to coordinate strategy, the documents show.
The Wisconsin investigations have been particularly mysterious due to the state’s unusually strict secrecy laws, which have resulted in gag orders even for witnesses and targets. The rules have hampered Walker’s ability to respond and left critics and allies alike uncertain of the extent to which the probes could damage him. He routinely used a campaign e-mail account to communicate with county staff members, who also used private accounts, the documents show. Prosecutors have said the approach was used to shield political business from public scrutiny.
Walker’s spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. But some of the governor’s allies have criticized the investigations as politically biased, and one group, the Wisconsin Club for Growth, last week filed a federal lawsuit calling the probe into possible illegal coordination a violation of free-speech rights. “Consider yourself now in the ‘inner circle,’ ” one county employee wrote to another in March 2010 after instructing her to check a non-public e-mail account frequently during the day. Referring to the future governor by his initials and his chief of staff, the employee continued, “I use this private account quite a bit to communicate with SKW and [Thomas] Nardelli.”
The e-mails being released Wednesday come from the files of Kelly Rindfleisch, a former Walker deputy chief of staff who in 2012 pleaded guilty to a felony for performing political work for a Walker-backed lieutenant governor candidate during hours she was being paid by taxpayers to do county business. The e-mails are being unsealed as part of her appeal. Walker told reporters Wednesday that he had not reviewed the documents but that he is “confident” that prosecutors had scrutinized them and decided they were not relevant.
Prosecutors said she sent 1,400 e-mails on county time related to political fundraising. More than 2,200 e-mails, they said, went to Walker campaign officials. “They chose to act on the ones that they’ve already made public,” he said. “I don’t know that there will be any great surprises beyond what they’ve already talked about.”
Many were sent using a private e-mail address and an Internet router installed in the county executive office suite with the intention of shielding the work from public access, prosecutors said. Walker said Democrats hoping to find damaging material are “going to be disappointed.”
Walker was copied on a handful of e-mails, released by prosecutors during Rindfleisch’s sentencing, that showed county workers and campaign aides jointly coordinating strategy. “They’re going to do what they’ve done in the past, which is over-hype things,” he said.
Prosecutors said then that Walker was not a target, and he was not charged. Even if Walker emerges from the e-mail release unscathed, he faces an additional inquiry from state prosecutors, who are believed to be looking into whether his successful campaign in a 2012 recall election illegally coordinated with independent conservative groups that poured millions of dollars into Wisconsin.
But Wisconsin Democrats hope the new e-mails could still prove politically harmful to Walker, perhaps providing examples of times when he appeared to be aware of the router or of political work being performed on the county’s dime. That inquiry could create political challenges if it hobbles key campaign aides as Walker gears up for an expected vigorous reelection challenge in November.
Democratic officials in the state are salivating over the chance to draw comparisons to Christie, who enjoyed an image among national Republicans as a stand-up fighter for conservative causes until internal e-mails revealed a plot by aides to create a massive traffic jam as possible political retribution against a Democratic mayor. Combined with the possibility of additional disclosures from the first investigation, the new inquiry threatens to hurt the governor as he attempts to gain momentum as a possible White House contender amid the scandal that has dimmed the 2016 prospects of a fellow star GOP governor, New Jersey’s Chris Christie.
“Will there be indication that Scott Walker knew about the illegal behavior that took place? I don’t know,” said Mike Tate, chairman of the state Democratic Party. But, he added, “all we need is something bad to be in these 27,000 e-mails, and all attention will turn to Wisconsin.” Democrats sought Wednesday to use the e-mails as a chance to draw comparisons between Walker and Christie, who has said he was unaware of a plot by aides to create a massive traffic jam as a possible political retribution against a Democratic mayor. Christie’s troubles began with the release of internal e-mails.
Others believe the reams of paper will produce nothing new from a three-year investigation from which Walker emerged without serious political damage. “Scott Walker was absolutely aware that his staff was participating in illegal activity on the public’s dime,” said Mike Tate, Wisconsin’s Democratic Party chairman.
“The convictions they got were on the periphery and really had nothing to do with Scott Walker. It was collateral damage,” said Craig Peterson, a former Wisconsin Republican campaign strategist. “What they wanted to find was corruption and they didn’t.” The Wisconsin investigations have been mysterious because of the state’s unusually strict secrecy laws, which have resulted in gag orders even for witnesses and targets. The rules have hampered Walker’s ability to respond and have left critics and allies alike uncertain about the extent to which the inquiries could damage him.
In his book, “Unintimidated,” released last year, Walker noted that efforts to use the probe against him in the 2012 recall campaign fell flat. Some of the governor’s allies have criticized the investigations as politically biased, and one group, the Wisconsin Club for Growth, filed a federal lawsuit last week calling the probe into possible illegal coordination a violation of free-speech rights.
“I reminded the voters that as an Eagle Scout, ‘I live by the standards of integrity I got from my parents,’” he wrote. The e-mails released Wednesday come from the files of Kelly Rindfleisch, a former Walker deputy chief of staff who in 2012 pleaded guilty to a felony for ­performing political work for a ­Walker-backed candidate for lieutenant governor during hours she was being paid by taxpayers to do county business. The e-mails were unsealed as part of her appeal.
Walker wrote that the probe began after his own chief of staff alerted the local district attorney to possible embezzlement at a veterans’ charity. Some of the documents offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a politician’s office that was predictably hypersensitive to public perception.
In April 2010, Walker’s chief of staff informed him that officials with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division were concerned because a Google search had revealed that a newly hired doctor had a history modeling thong underwear. “Apparently she’s competent, but even the Medical Director is dismayed that she has a varied lifestyle outside of her medical profession,” the chief of staff wrote.
Walker’s response came a few hours later: “Get rid of the MD asap.”
His allies said the reams of paper can’t reveal much new from a three-year investigation from which Walker emerged without serious political damage.
“The convictions they got were on the periphery and really had nothing to do with Scott Walker. It was collateral damage,” said Craig Peterson, a former Republican campaign strategist in Wisconsin. “What they wanted to find was corruption and they didn’t.”
In his book “Unintimidated,” released last year, Walker noted that efforts to use the inquiry against him in the 2012 recall campaign fell flat.
“I reminded the voters that as an Eagle Scout, ‘I live by the standards of integrity I got from my parents,’ ” he wrote.
Walker wrote that the investigation began after his chief of staff alerted the local district attorney to possible embezzlement at a veterans’ charity.
That sparked what is known as a “John Doe” investigation, a Wisconsin criminal tool that allows prosecutors to interview witnesses and subpoena records in front of a judge instead of a grand jury.That sparked what is known as a “John Doe” investigation, a Wisconsin criminal tool that allows prosecutors to interview witnesses and subpoena records in front of a judge instead of a grand jury.
The scope of the investigation proved surprisingly broad: Rindfleisch was one of two Walker aides convicted of mixing political and public business. The investigation was broad.
Tim Russell, another Walker deputy chief of staff was one of two people convicted of stealing from a veterans’ charity. Russell’s partner was found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. And a Walker campaign donor pleaded guilty of exceeding campaign finance limits by reimbursing employees of his railroad company for their donations. Tim Russell, another Walker deputy chief of staff, was one of two people convicted of stealing from the veterans’ charity. Russell’s partner was found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. And a Walker campaign donor pleaded guilty to exceeding campaign finance limits by reimbursing employees of his railroad company for their donations.
“It was like a slow-moving glacier, picking up everything as it went,” said Michael Maistelman, a Democratic attorney who for a time represented Russell. “You turn over enough rocks, you’re going to find something.” “It was like a slow-moving glacier, picking up everything as it went,” said Michael Maistelman, a Democratic lawyer who for a time represented Russell.
Even in the face of profound pressure from prosecutors, Walker’s aides did not turn on him — and there is no sign that any are likely to provide new attention-grabbing information in the future. Even in the face of profound pressure from prosecutors, Walker’s aides did not turn on him — and there is no sign that any are likely to provide new attention-grabbing information.
“I am certain that Kelly Rindfleisch isn’t going to be that person,” said Franklyn Gimbel, Rindfleisch’s attorney. “Under any circumstance, for any reason. Because she doesn’t believe he did anything.” “I am certain that Kelly Rindfleisch isn’t going to be that person,” said Franklyn Gimbel, her attorney. “Under any circumstance, for any reason. Because she doesn’t believe he did anything.”
It is believed that some piece of evidence turned up during the probe that resulted in the opening of the still ongoing second investigation. It is believed that some piece of evidence turned up that resulted in the opening of the ongoing second investigation.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in October that the investigation is probing possible illegal political coordination during the 2012 recall elections and has spread to five Wisconsin counties, two of them with Republican district attorneys who have joined three Democratic prosecutors in turning the case over to a special prosecutor. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in October that the investigation is looking into possible illegal political coordination during the 2012 recall election and has spread to five Wisconsin counties, two of them with Republican district attorneys who have joined three Democratic prosecutors in turning over the case to a special prosecutor.
It is illegal in Wisconsin for candidates to coordinate their campaign activities with outside organizations that do not face the same restrictions on donations if the groups advocate for their election. It is illegal in Wisconsin for candidates to coordinate campaign activities with outside groups that do not face the same restrictions on donations if the groups advocate for their election.
Democratic groups have long complained that the 2012 race was awash in outside spending, as conservative groups rallied to keep Walker in office. A Walker political adviser, they note, also served as a spokesman to the Wisconsin Club for Growth, which spent heavily on the race. Democratic groups have long complained that the 2012 race was awash in outside spending, as conservative groups rallied to keep Walker in office. A Walker political adviser, they note, served as a spokesman to the Wisconsin Club for Growth, which spent heavily on the campaign.
Conservative groups have moved aggressively to convince federal and state judges, as well as the public, that the ongoing inquiry is an unfair partisan push meant to immobilize the right and embarrass Walker. Conservative groups have moved aggressively to try to convince federal and state judges, as well as the public, that the ongoing inquiry is an unfair partisan push meant to immobilize the right and hurt Walker.
A sealed judicial opinion issued earlier this year and obtained by the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial page has fueled the effort. The document showed that a judge quashed a set of subpoenas in the probe, ruling that prosecutors had failed “to show probable cause that a crime was committed.” A sealed judicial opinion issued this year and obtained by the Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial page has fueled the effort. The document showed that a judge quashed a set of subpoenas in the inquiry, ruling that prosecutors had failed “to show probable cause that a crime was committed.”
The Journal editorialized that the ruling vindicated their suspicion that the “probe is a political operation intended to shut up Mr. Walker’s allies as he seeks re-election this year.” Prosecutors will likely appeal the ruling. The newspaper editorial said the ruling vindicated the suspicion that the “probe is a political operation intended to shut up Mr. Walker’s allies as he seeks re-election this year.” Prosecutors are likely to appeal the ruling.
In its lawsuit, the Wisconsin Club for Growth, one of 29 right-leaning groups that have received subpoenas in the matter, charged that the still-secret probe is “calculated to chill protected speech” and therefore violates the civil rights of the group and its leader Eric O’Keefe. In its lawsuit, the Wisconsin Club for Growth, one of 29 right-leaning groups that have received subpoenas in the matter, charged that the still-secret inquiry is “calculated to chill protected speech.”
David Rivkin, a Washington-based lawyer for the Club for Growth, said that already, the investigation has largely halted the group’s political activities in the state. He said the probe has sidelined the anti-tax group from weighing in on behalf of a $500-million tax cut Walker is now advocating, while the secrecy rules inhibit its ability to fully defend itself. Even the group’s federal complaint is heavily redacted in deference to the John Doe rules. “This is worse than anything I’ve ever seen,” Rivkin said of the secrecy. “It’s Kafkaesque. . . . And bad things happen when there is no sunlight.” David Rivkin, a Washington-based attorney for the Club for Growth, said that already, the investigation has largely halted the group’s political activities in the state.
The lawsuit also accuses Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm, a Democrat who launched both probes, of political bias. It notes, for instance, that there has been no indication that any left-leaning groups have faced similar prosecutor’s scrutiny though unions were active in the election as well. He said the probe has sidelined the anti-tax group from weighing in on behalf of a $500 million tax cut Walker is advocating, while the secrecy rules inhibit its ability to fully defend itself. Even the group’s federal complaint is heavily redacted in deference to the John Doe rules.
If conservative groups succeed in undermining the investigation’s legitimacy, the result could ironically convert the probe from a possible Walker weakness into an unexpected strength, rallying conservatives around a governor perceived to be holding firm against liberal bullies. The lawsuit also accuses Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm, a Democrat who began both investigations, of political bias. It notes, for instance, that there has been no indication that any left-leaning groups have faced similar scrutiny though unions were active in the election as well.
If conservative groups succeed in undermining the investigation’s legitimacy, the result could convert the inquiry from a possible Walker weakness into an un­expected strength, rallying conservatives around a governor perceived to be holding firm against liberal bullies.
Sean Sullivan and Matt DeLong contributed to this report.