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Following reports that Scott Walker’s criminal defense fund grew by $100,000 in May, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is today reporting major revelations in the John Doe criminal corruption probe, including Scott Walker’s mistaken admission that he is under investigation.
--Scott Walker mistakenly admits that he is a target in the John Doe criminal corruption probe
Walker, in a rare moment of candor, stated to reporters that he would not use the criminal defense fund to pay for the legal defenses of his aides, who have been charged with crimes ranging from child enticement, to theft from veterans and the families of fallen soldiers, to misuse of taxpayer resources to illegally campaign for Scott Walker, and would instead use the funds for himself or his campaign.
Wisconsin law is very clear: an elected official can only establish a legal defense fund if they, or their agent, are under investigation for, charged with, or convicted of violations of Wisconsin’s campaign finance and election laws.
Nothing provides for an elected official creating a legal defense fund for the sole purpose of campaign compliance, assisting the prosecution or aiding an investigation, as Scott Walker claims he is doing.
Since he is not paying for the defense of an agent acting on his behalf, it is now clear that Scott Walker is under investigation.
--The homes and offices of top Walker administration officials homes have been raided by prosecutors
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is also reporting that prosecutors in the criminal corruption probe have raided the homes and offices of several top Walker officials.
Kelly Rindfleisch, who has been charged with four felonies for using taxpayer resources to run Scott Walker’s political machine, has failed in her bid before the state Appellate court to transfer her trial to a county with a Republican judge.
Rindfleisch’s trial will be held in October in Milwaukee County.
In its report on Rindfleisch’s trial, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for the first time references raids by prosecutors on the homes and offices of Rindfleisch, as well Jim Villa, a longtime Walker confidante, and Brett Davis, Walker’s preferred Lt. Gov. candidate and current Walker administration official.
It was previously reported that prosecutors raided the home of another Walker administration official, Cindy Archer.