John Doe Investigation

What Senator Scott Fitzgerald Knew

The evidence shows to date state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald has not been forthcoming or honest with the media about these matters.

Walker’s Latest Whopper on Criminal Investigation

There is no universe which exists where an ambitious career politician like Scott Walker wouldn’t have his high priced criminal defense lawyers find out if he was under criminal investigation.

New Document Shows Scott Walker Was Targeted in Criminal Investigation

Scot Ross, president of the progressive group One Wisconsin Now, concurred with Fischer. “Scott Walker simply cannot be trusted,” he said. “Scott Walker repeatedly told the people of Wisconsin he wasn't under criminal investigation. Today, the evidence shows Scott Walker repeatedly wasn't telling the people of Wisconsin the truth.” [Daily Beast]

Ethics

Scott Walker's political philosophy can be summed up in three easy steps: (1) Reward my donors, (2) Increase my power, and (3) Punish my enemies.

The political pitfalls of cultural crossover: Scott Walker edition

In an undated letter unearthed by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now during the August release of documents from the first of two John Doe investigations related to the governor, Walker responded to a letter from Milwaukee attorney and chairman of the Wisconsin Center District Franklyn Gimbel… The letter is signed, “Thank you again and Molotov.” [Capital Times]

Scott Walker’s Corruption Problem

New documents released show that Walker helped his longtime campaign treasurer get inside information for a bid to lease office space to the county. Ross, who describes Walker’s administration as “arguably one of the most corrupt in recent history,” is calling for those aides, Cindy Archer and Jim Villa, to resign [The Progressive]

Justices face questions as ‘John Doe’ probe lands in Supreme Court

One Wisconsin Now said the four-year-old rules are a “get-out-of-court-free card” for powerful interests that spend heavily in Supreme Court races. His group has called on the four justices to recuse themselves from any John Doe case. “There’s an $8 million weight on the scales of justice spent to elect these justices,” Ross said. [Wisconsin State Journal]

Will Gov. Walker Answer the $700,000 Question?

MADISON, Wis. — Despite claims made by Gov. Walker to the media that he was an intractable supporter of reducing mining regulations, as reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today Walker as a state legislator voted for the so-called “mining moratorium” bill authored by environmental champion, former Madison Democratic State Rep. Spencer Black. “Scott Walker […]

Will State Big Business Lobby Answer the Question, Is Gov. Walker Still Doing It?

MADISON, Wis. — Contained in hundreds of pages of recently unsealed John Doe investigation court documents is information about the participation of the state big business lobby, the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), in a scheme termed “criminal” by prosecutors orchestrated by Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign. Since the release of the documents, Walker has refused to […]

Scott Walker Accused of Illegal Fundraising

One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said there is one simple question Gov. Walker must answer as his 2014 and beyond campaigns heats up: "Are you still doing it?" [MSNBC]

One Simple Question Gov. Walker Must Answer: Are You Still Doing It?

MADISON, Wis. — Court documents from the latest John Doe criminal investigation of Gov. Walker reveal he was at the center of what was described as a national “criminal scheme” to evade campaign laws. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said there is one simple question Gov. Walker must answer as his 2014 and beyond […]

Details of judges’ decisions to halt John Doe probe

“Basically what happened was is that they got caught and they are trying to use any and all legal arguments to try and get the case thrown out so they can save their bacon. It’s very simple,” said Scot Ross. [WLUK-TV]

One Wisconsin Now Slams Gov. Walker on Capitol City Sunday

Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, isn’t buying Walker’s answer. “There’s something there,” said Ross. “All this discussion about a settlement comes after there’s been discussion about the records being made public from the investigation and I think that’s what he fears the most.” [WKOW-TV]

Desperate Attempt by Gov. Walker to Keep Documents Secret From the Public?

“Seeing what was revealed in just a fraction of the documents from the first John Doe criminal probe of Gov. Walker and his associates, it’s no wonder he’s desperate to keep more of the paper trail of his record of cronyism, corruption and incompetence away from the media and the public,” said Ross. [WMTV-TV]

One Wisconsin Now Hits Gov. Walker over Alleged John Doe Deal

“There is no question that Gov. Walker is driven by political ambition for higher office and his next election. And he is clearly, and rightly, concerned about what additional document dumps from the criminal investigations of his administration and campaign will do to his 2014 election prospects and 2016 presidential ambitions. What remains to be […] [WQOW-TV]

Legal Filings Show Walker Ousted GAB Chair After Board’s Unanimous Vote to Proceed with John Doe Investigation

MADISON, Wis. — Just released filings related to the ongoing John Doe investigation into allegations of illegal coordination between Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and a host of conservative organizations show Gov. Walker withdrew his own 2011 appointment of then-Government Accountability Board Chair David Deininger following a unanimous vote by the board to proceed with an investigation […]

Liberal group asks Supreme Court to stay out of John Doe case

One Wisconsin Now sent the court a letter saying two groups involved in the investigation — Wisconsin Club for Growth and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s chamber of commerce — helped get the court’s four conservative-leaning justices elected. The two groups have spent a combined $7.3 million to support Annette Ziegler, David Prosser, Michael […] [Associated Press]

Liberal group asks Supreme Court to refuse to take John Doe case

A liberal group on Monday asked the state Supreme Court to refuse to take a case related to a secret investigation of fundraising and spending in Wisconsin’s recent recall elections. Scot Ross, the executive director of One Wisconsin Now, argued in a letter to the court that the four conservatives on the seven-justice court should have […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Scott Walker campaign asks Supreme Court to intervene in ‘John Doe’ investigation

Citing numbers from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, OWN executive director Scot Ross noted the four-member conservative majority on the court had benefited from millions of dollars in outside spending by the groups targeted by the investigation. “The parties that Gov. Walker’s legal appeal would protect from investigation have spent millions to put a right-wing majority on […] [Wisconsin State Journal]

Gov. Walker and Special Interest Pals Go Venue Shopping for Friendly Court

MADISON, Wis. — Defense lawyers for Gov. Walker are reportedly appealing to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and its right-wing majority, to try to protect him from prosecutors investigating alleged illegal coordination between his campaign and right-wing groups. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross questioned whether the conservative court majority might be too friendly with Gov. […]

Reported Central Figure in Scott Walker Administration “John Doe” Criminal Investigation Snags Newly Created State Job at $178,000 Annual Salary

MADISON, Wis. — Longtime Gov. Walker close confidant, lobbyist and former staffer, Jim Villa, has reportedly been named to a newly created state job that will pay him $178,000 a year. Gov. Walker is said to have given his personal recommendation of Villa for the job. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross commented, “Filling this […]